Everybody is having their say about 2012 and I thought I should join in and write down some reflections (a very poor excuse to stray from revising, I admit!) I don't really understand why people keep talking to months/years/time in general eg. "December please be nice to me" or "2013 please treat me kindly and get me a husband"... It's just a teeny bit weird that so many people are doing it, I thought friends existed in this world and you could talk to them instead of talking to... time. But it's a free country so don't feel obliged to not do it just cause I said it's weird.

"Hey, 12:09 PM, please bring me a good lunch!"

Ok, so may the reflections begin. (I'm kind of a point form person so bear with me.)

The 2012 Top 9 memories are... (in no particular order except #1)

1. The shelter and my 4 puppies - A very great experience, washing bowls, washing poops, bottle-feeding puppies 4-6 times a day, getting free lunches and a free gala dinner. Unfortunately, all 4 puppies passed away due to a viral infection. I did not know cats could be such nice animals until I was exposed to so many of them. Made new friends, people from different walks of life and learnt from them. The shelter is doing its best. I think that this has got to be the best part of my 2012. I love my puppies.

2. College - The hype, the free gym, the free pool, the people, the good, the bad, cool stuff, frustrating stuff, and having to decide what to wear almost everyday. It's OK-LAH. But I can't wait to spread my Airbus (or Boeing) wings and fly across the South China Sea! Just for studies though. I would like to return to good ol' Kuching.

3. Driving - It seems like it has been ages but I only got my license 9 months ago. I try to drive carefully a lot of the time. I drive better than my dad. My mum agrees, but she still thinks she drives better than me - I won't challenge that, considering how many years she's been driving. I drive my sister around quite a bit too, she seems to enjoy it but claims to step on the brake gentler than I do. Perhaps I have a secret ambition to be a driver.

4. Debate - This was an interesting experience. While I intend to never do it again, I am grateful for the people I got to meet and friendships I've had the privilege to keep... although I could count those with one hand. Oh and I learnt how to argue intellectually and confidently while thinking "this is a total disaster AAAHHHHH."

5. My birthday - I turned 18 in 2012 and received the nicest present ever (letters compiled) from possibly the nicest bunch of people in my life. Angeline tells me (in her letter) to read them all again if and when I feel down so that I'll feel cheered up - and it works!

6. Laksa Wednesdays with Ray - need I say more? I only worry for my arteries, I hope they are not clogged up.

7. Went to Indonesia - and we all got sick afterwards. There's not much to say about this trip other than the fact that it was enjoyable and considering the stuff that happened that had the potential to unlock the volatile part of us, we were really very good! Tempers pretty much didn't fly! Haha, it is funny to think of this as an accomplishment...

8. The water incident - Aha, you can read all about it HERE. Always be grateful for water, electricity, Internet, food...

9. Books! - Dad showed me a lotttt of books. I've read some and there are loads more I have yet to read. Finished the Bible once through (my first time, actually). It was a 90-day speedy reading schedule but I took longer haha. Reading is good; reading stuff that has eternal value is way better.

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Cheers to 2013!

I am in a poem-making moooood yaw

If You Like Me (inspired by the quote in We Bought A Zoo)

Before the candle is lit
Before time says too late
While my supper I eat
While feelings fluctuate

Wonder no longer
Pace not to and fro
If you really like me
Do let me know

The Doughnut Hole (inspired by a Big Apple doughnut incident)

Scars that we bear
Like a round doughnut hole
All the crushed almonds
Sad stories untold

But that's not too bad
For doughnuts remain sweet
You didn't see me gobbling
In the back seat

Three became two
Two, yes, for you
You, we'll never tell
Tell and it'd be hell

No flood water has ever succeeded in coming past our doorstep, yet.

But on 8 November, our dining area and a little of the kitchen had water. And we had no idea where this water was coming from. It made its presence known by making mother slip (and yes, she caught herself just in time).

Apparently floods can come from inside your house if your walls have water seeping through it and down to the ground due to a pipe that's leaking because a rat gnawed on it.

Well then, it was a Saturday evening, and no contractors/pipe fixers work for their usual fee after working hours. Guess what the next day was: Sunday. Well you didn't have to guess, I've... already told you. And nobody works on a Sunday for their usual fee either. Maybe 3x more, parents say.

!!!!!! *insert angry face here at people who charge more to work on Sundays*

What were we poor folk to do to stop the water from coming in through our walls then? We turned off the main water supply.

Admittedly, I was so not used to it. This made me realise the importance of having water come from your tap. Clean water, we had; electricity, we had; internet connection, we had. What we didn't have was water coming from a tap. It's a bit ridiculous thinking back how disturbed I was. I know now that we can actually survive without water coming from a tap, as long as you have clean water (you can survive with dirty water as well but it wouldn't exactly be considered healthy).

Ah, then it became easier and just a tad bit exciting to do manual work. Water-collecting times spelled a buzz of activity for our family. The moment the main water supply was turned on, water would start leaking through the pipe in our house and down our walls so cloth had to be put on the floor to soak it all up, and twist it dry and soak and twist... I became the Master S&T (Soak and Twister).

So we got our dishes washed; buckets, tins and tumblers filled (you need water for all sorts of things like rinsing your teeth after you brush them, you know) in record breaking time throughout those couple of days that we had to turn on and off the main water supply.

On Monday afternoon (finally), two not-really-square-ish holes were cut out in our ceiling and a new pipe was put in - water was coming out through our taps again!

Hooray!

Well now, aren't you grateful for the water you've got coming out of your taps?

Tip of the Day: You can flush your toilet one last time after the water supply has been cut. One time only, make it count. ;D

Hey all!!!!

Going to be busy pretty soon (that is if I manage to overcome le inertia!) so I guess I'd give a quick update before you never hear from me for a long long long time? ;)

As I write, I tend to ask myself how I've been lately (well that's probably what you want to know as well, right?) and I always come to the conclusion that life has been not bad. My debate team broke into quarter finals of the Yayasan Sarawak English Debate Championship, watched The Expendables 2, did some praise dancing with dad on Sunday, watched 12 Angry Men today in law class and I'm watching Just For Laughs Asia right now cos mom turned on the TV.

Accounting might just kill me. Or maybe Business Studies. But Law is still fun. :P

Live life safe on the fast lane, dear friends. Good day and God bless!

Gots to study!!!

Helloouuu! First week of the second semester of college has just ended and I must say that it wasn’t too bad at all! I now have 3 subjects to master and 3 amazing lecturers, what more can I ask for? Of course we’ll always find things to complain about (like how the Internet SUCKS these days and how food is so expensive and I can’t remember my username and password to a site and…!!!) but like someone wrote on FB, as long as we are not eating dirt cakes (literally cakes made out of mud) like kids do in third world countries, we really should be more grateful. Oh, and +1 for the social life! I finally have a friend (who used to be my secondary schoolmate) who doesn’t mind joining this one man gang of mine. Good company is good. AND I went to a gym for free for the first time. Free! It was awesomeeeee! Dad wants me to keep fit and treadmills (and dumbbells) are really fun! AND there’s a swimming pool too (which I have yet to try out but it won’t be too long before I conquer it as well) and it’s also free. AND, if you haven’t noticed yet, I kinda like free stuff.

Today is Teachers' Day, which got me thinking about how few and far between good teachers are. I know of more mediocre ones than good ones that's for sure and this makes the good ones (when they do come by) very appreciated.

With one of the best of the best

Back in Form 4&5, I was blessed with a wonderful BM teacher who was also our class teacher. I personally think she's the best BM teacher in Kuching. I also know how rowdy and disrespectful students can get towards teachers and in my class, it happened. A lot. What I have learnt from her example is patience. A lot of patience. Oh, if it were I who was the teacher, insolent students would be kicked out of class and sent down to the principal's office (real quick and easy solution, innit?) so it was definitely mind-boggling when this teacher would rather keep them in her class and do her best to continue teaching even though it can really be taxing on the emotions. What love is this? This teacher's actions was a picture of a dimension of love to me. It is puzzling and I am amazed every time I think about her. I'd like to be more like her.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

I still have a long way to go, and I tip my hat in gratitude and respect to those who have taught me one way or another, professional teacher or not, because they have invested time in helping me grow.

Happy Teachers' Day!

Bonjour amigo. The best part of my first semester of semi-adult life is just about to begin!

Sometimes I wonder why I get myself into things and then wonder what in the world I got myself into because (in case I haven't updated you recently) I'm joining a debate!!!!! That's crazy!!! Because I've never debated in my entire short life!!!! And now I'm going up against the pros. I mean, what am I thinking??? Am I even, you know, thinking?!! I have a feeling I'm going to get trashed. :P But I hope to have a little fun lah... it's not like anyone will remember me anyway haha.

Apart from that, I begin work at the SSPCA as a volunteer tomorrow! It's a once (or twice or thrice if I can make it) a week thing. I never thought I'd be able to say "Hey, I work at the shelter" HAHAHA. So for now my days are pretty packed with interesting stuff. I don't know about you but I think this is gonna be one terrific ride.

The time has come for a little update on my life which I know you are interested in (why else would you be reading my blog hehe).

The other day, someone asked me how college was treating me. As I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that despite having slightly disappointing experiences (but who am I to complain, I've already been SO blessed!), my lecturer (I only have two, so when I say lecturer, I mean only one of them) is really good and definitely worth every penny paid. :D

Been driving my red "Ferrari" to college and enjoying it much, yes. No accidents yet and I hope to keep it that way. Mom tells me to keep it that way. I intend to but you never know, you know??

It's time to get into the Asian mode and study.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot! Scored 4A+, 4A and 2A- (simply put, straight A's :P) for SPM!!!! Hooray and hallelujah!!

I PASSED MY DRIVING TEST!!!!!

=D =D =D

Okay, I was really close to failing. x_x But it's a long story so I'll save that for another day...

P License will be coming around pretty soooon. And so a new driver will be trollin' the streets of Kuching real soon tooo! Yay!

Played drums for church yesterday, and it went quite fine (thanks to the very welcoming and helpful team of musicians) despite the teeny mistakes that hopefully no one noticed hehe. Like Ray said, may God be glorified!!! :)

I had a most wonderful surprise today which had me grinning from ear to ear.

To cut a long story short, I have been awarded the Yayasan Pendidikan Bistari scholarship to the amount of SEVEN GRAND and twenty ringgit.

SEVEN GRAND.

No joke. Didn't see this coming at all. But I won't complain haha. This is really God's blessing. :)

College has been going extremely well despite having two lecturers that are a bit odd. I've got an unethical- uh, I think I better stop here in case anyone stumbles upon my blog and yeah. The friend-making business has been going fine (not really, but it's alright, really). Transportation plans to college will be changing soon, I think. God is really good and so far I haven't had to miss a class yet. What are the chances that someone from all your classes happens to move to live closer to you and is therefore able to pick you up to go to all your classes? CLOSE TO ZERO??? And yet, it seems to be unfolding out like that for me.

Got a hair cut, got bangs for the first time in... quite some time. :)

So that's the update for you! =)

So much has changed within the last 2 months.

I've had my share of goodbyes. They weren't too sweet but I am going to choose to look on the bright side of things, and just grin and wave and move on.

Tomorrow,I will be stepping into the next chapter of my life: The College Chapter!

The anticipation is great.

Can't wait to discover what God has in store for me.

There's just one thing that hasn't been arranged yet - transportation. But I think it will be pretty cool to see how God will provide... :)

Yeehee!

I will probably start practicing on me drums very soon to get more skillz.

Sorry, neighbours. =P

It is raining right now. Hopefully there will be no more floods for the whole year. Our car porch was flooded the other day but thankfully the water didn't make it to the inside of our house.

It's pretty funny when it starts drizzling right after I put the laundry out. Slightly annoying but that's life.

Life has been good. I have been reading a couple chapters of books when I actually remember to. I've also been washing a lot of dishes. It is my life now. Saya anak mithali. ^^

With freedom comes responsibility. - Eleanor Roosevelt