tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723634073802478222024-03-14T00:47:27.732+08:00Searching for RainbowBeing Ejin. Life. Travel. Family. FriendsEjinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.comBlogger418125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-12333751829487991692013-06-29T22:08:00.001+08:002013-06-29T22:08:28.012+08:00a long period of silence<div style="text-align: justify;">
My last posting in this blog was months ago ...i was active in the other blog as it is more on my activities ..the things that I done, and as a mean of updating my dear friends of my activities ...always happy occasions ...food, party, sight seeing and merriment ...but i was reluctant to update this blog, as I felt this is more personal to me ...so, I have been thinking that I need time to rethink this new phase of my life ..i need time to re-adjust to living in Wellington ..i need time to reflect on the past ..i need to know how strong I could be..and how strong I must be in order to achieve what I have set myself to achieve ...</div>
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sounds cliche? perhaps ...but I was finding it a bit hard to settle down here ..the first month was the hardest ...trying to cope with my new responsibility ...as a student, under scholarship..with pressure and expectation, a new challenge as I was basically "taken out" from my comfort zone ...yes, I admit that I was so comfortable in my last position back home ..and here I am, in a foreign land where I do not know anybody when I first arrived ...and missing the boys terribly ....this is actually our longest separation period ...i was trying to take everything in my stride ...it was hard ...as I was trying not to let my parents and my siblings know how I really feel ..putting a brave face ..and trying to be cheerful ...i am person who always hide behind my smiles, I am good at that...I smile a lot and people around me think I am so happy and no problem to think about...they were wrong, there were times that I cried myself to sleep because I miss Al and adik so much ...when I knew that my mom or my dad were unwell ...when I knew that my only sister was hospitalised and having an operation...and knowing that I am so far away, and couldn't do anything about any of it was heart breaking ...</div>
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I am blessed to have many friends here ...despite only being here for only 5 months now ...I went out practically every weekends...potluck dinners, bbq dinners, drinks, sight seeing, sleep-overs..you name it, my weekends were always full of activities...and yet, sometimes I still feel I am so alone, despite being surrounded by people ...don't get me wrong, they are really really wonderful friends ...helping me in so many ways ...they have all been very kind to me, I really do appreciate their friendship...but, I guess there are times that I just felt so far from my family and close friends ....but I always tell myself, I choose this path ...it was my own decision to pursue this PhD journey ..and I know that it is going to be a long journey, and mine has just started ..I know all that ....it makes me more determined to finish this as soon as I possibly can ...</div>
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And doing a PhD is a different ball game altogether ...there are times I feel so stupid and cannot understand what my supervisor wanted me to do ...it is like he was talking in different language altogether! There are times that I read ...and read ...and read ..but I still don't understand what I was reading!!! and the guilt set in ...as I was guilty of all the time that I wasted by not being productive ...and that guilt spiraled into depressing thoughts and translated into a somewhat study-distruptive behaviour ...and I am only 5 months into PhD ...imagine how I will have to cope and motivate myself to be strong for the next 3 years ....</div>
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and another form of distraction has been from people in my past ...i received unwanted communication from my past life that really pissed me off ...some people just cannot get over the fact that I have move on ....and that being single doesn't mean that i am pining for companion ...but it is sort of a blessing in disguise for me ...because it made me realised that I can tell trusted friends about my past ..and I did not cry ...i don't feel anything anymore ...and it just struck me that I am completely and utterly free from that episodes ...people said that you are healed when you can talk about it without crying anymore ...i used to think it was a cheesy line ...but, heyyyyy ..i realised that I am so over it that it did not bother me at all ..so, hoorayy for that ...</div>
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At the moment, my only focus in life is to finish my PhD ...and to be happy with my family ...I have come to a decision that I will try my very best to achieve these important aims of mine ...sacrifices have to be made ....i have to be strong and determined ..there will be times when I will falter, but i must remind myself, I need to pick myself up again ...that's called life ...</div>
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so, maybe..just maybe...this new phase in my life will make me into a stronger person...and yes, I am still searching for my rainbow ...for now, my rainbow is known as PhD :-)</div>
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Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-71452378872421698282013-03-15T21:08:00.002+08:002013-03-15T21:08:49.478+08:00Shaista's Chicken Briyani<div style="text-align: justify;">
My flatmates and I had a grand time cooking the last few days ...we seldom see each other due to our busy schedules ..i am not a morning person, so I always wake up later than my flatmates ...and they are usually gone by the time I am up ...and I often stayed back at the office till 6 or 7 and usually my habit is to heat up leftovers for dinner - if there is any ...or cook up some quick and simple dish for dinner ..hence, i was always not in the kitchen for a long time ....Shaista and Pupei always cook dinner and I seldom cook at the same time as them ...Maryam, on the other hand, is always busy and comes back to the flat late at night - where she usually had her dinner at school ....</div>
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but last few days were different ...i think because of the cold weather, most of us came back early and want to have some nice hot meals ....and somehow decided to cook briyani together ...or rather, Shaista cooked the chicken ...Maryam cook the rice while I did the cuttings of vege for salads etc ...the result was outstanding :-) and i said that sincerely from the bottom of my heart .....</div>
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Apart from the main dish of chicken briyani, she also made raita and onion salad ...it was like a full set of meal ....worth a repeat :-) and I am volunteering to help cut the vegetables ...or washing up afterwards</div>
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the onion and cucumber salad ...all sliced thinly by yours truly :-)</div>
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potato raita ..with chickpeas</div>
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Shaista assured us that this is a complete Pakistani meal ...and you know what, that was really delicious ...worth a repeat </div>
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Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-90949079689244415692013-03-10T20:00:00.002+08:002013-03-10T20:00:29.713+08:00pre-festival brunch at Nicole's<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last week was Newtown Festival ..initially planned to go there with Maryam, my flatmate coz it is her case study area ...then a couple of days before the festival, Maryam invited me to go with her to her friend's Nicole place for brunch ...she lives in Newtown and orgnised this brunch for her friends before they all go for the festivities ...I tagged along with Maryam and her friend from school, Nabil, ...and guess what, we walked from our place all the way to Newtown ..and it was like a 40-45 mins journey on foot ...it was not bad until i saw some hilly parts, but the weather was kind of nice ..so walking was ok ..plus there was three of us, and we were talking non-stop, so it was kind of not too tiring ...until ...we came to a very (and I mean very!!!) steep hills ..My God! I would never rent a house that is on the top of the hill..and being the last house on the street ...was really out of breath when I arrived at Nicole's place ...even Maryam who walks to and from school everyday was out of breath climbing up that street ..and it is harder for us coz Nabil kept pressuring us to walk faster as were are actually late! the invitation was for 10am ...but by 10 we were still walking :-)</div>
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wonderful view from Nicole's balcony ...was told that the view of the sunset from this balcony is spectacular!</div>
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To my surprise, when I arrived there I saw familiar faces ...Kak Shidah and another Malaysian couple were there ..so happened that she and Nicole were in the same school ...and i get to meet other people as well ..but the food was the highlight of the visit ...My God!!! It was such a huge spread ..and all was homemade ...the hostess is a great cook ..and she did all her baking! Very impressed ...but not many photos coz I was shy to take photos ...and only took the photo after most of the food were gone ...and believe you me, the food were done very quickly...especially the smoked salmon pastries puffs...vege quiche ...and the cakes ..</div>
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apple tree at the backyard</div>
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Nicole made lots of breads ...and there were homemade jams as well ...one that people kept saying a really good was the one the plum and ginger jam ..I did not taste it as I dont feel like having ginger in my jam and toasted bread ..and there were muesli ...bagels and cream cheese ...various cakes and cookies ...muffins and scones ...and that is not even a comprehensive list!</div>
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see - lots of empty trays ...the vege quiche was very nice ...but i love the smoked salmon puffs more! and she just bought a waffle maker - so the highlight of the day was the waffles ...</div>
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the plum and ginger preserves</div>
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this was my favourite of all ...cheese and tomato scones ...yummy to the max!</div>
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one of the loaves that she baked for the party ..</div>
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I get to meet a couple of people there ...especially Maryam's friends from school ...it was nearly 2pm that we went down to join the festival ..it was well underway by then ...lots of people, foodstalls selling variety of foods - from Africa, Indonesia, Moroccco, India, Hungary ..just to name a few ...will do another posting on the festival later ...</div>
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one of the food stalls ...</div>
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I was joining their group that day ..the lady in white is Maryam's friend ..and the other guy is a friend of Nicole, whom we just met that day ...they were there for the music ...but Maryam, Nabil and I were more for the atmosphere and to what it is all about ..and the food of course ...so, the three of us went back to town by 4pm ...and instead of taking the ubus, we walked for another 45 mins ...a crazy day of walking at such great distances ...and guess what, we did not go home straight away, but went to the Bay and the museum first! Then that night I slept so early ..and didnt wake up till the following day ...was tiring but fun! and the food made it more awesome ...and memorable ..</div>
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Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-83040885429596260002013-03-08T16:12:00.001+08:002013-03-08T16:12:22.892+08:00lunch entertainmentHello ..i am doing a posting via my mobile for the first time...am so bored and out of my mind with too much things to do. I have classes 3 days a week and on top of that i am expected to complete bits and pieces for my phd ..but not complaining too much here coz i love both my lecturers ..so cool and both has very interesting ways of delivering lecture ..in a way i am also learning how to teach better in classes as well...<br />
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taken just now in my Statistics Class ..huge class!</div>
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anyway ..i just had my last class for this week ...felt relieved that i can now focus on my readings and can stay put in my office without having to move from one lecture halls to another ..so decided to have my lunch outside...instead of having it on the go while typing in front of the PC. So here I am having my packed lunch of fried noodles and omelette..enjoying the view ..feeling good about myself till this group of students sat not far from me and started thier conversarion...<br />
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such a boring conversation ..i couldnt help but hear them coz they are talking so very loud ..this really opinionated guy was dominating the conversation ..and talked about the economy in USA and comparing to the rest of the world ..he cited examples from China..Indonesia ..Philipines ..Singapore ..Taiwan ...and i guess his friends did not like him much ...little by little people left him ...hahaha he did not give anybody a chance to speak! and now as I am typing, he is left with his grilfriend ....and the others just left ...<br />
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that's my lunch entertainment for today ...<br />
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Have a great weekend people :-)<br />
<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-12643113133911790962013-03-05T18:38:00.000+08:002013-03-05T18:38:25.649+08:00First class in Vics<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today marks the first day of my classes ...it is like so weird coz usually I am in the front talking nonsense ...hahaha but this morning I was one of the students attending my first lecture at Vics. Thought I was early by arriving 5 minutes early ...but by the time I arrived, the huge lecture theatre at Kirk Building was nearly full ...turns out that the stream that I enrolled in was full to its capacity ie. 400 students per stream ...and the afternoon stream also has full house ...</div>
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I never ever had this many students in this class before ...even when I was in Newcastle, the class was never this big ...and since it is a "calculating" subject, i dont know how it is gonna work ...but we will be having tutorials and drop in sessions as well throughout the week ...and the funny thing is that when the lecturer - who was highly recommended by my SV - told us that each tutorial group should be between 40-50 ppl ...but they only prepare rooms for 30 people in a group - coz attendance is not compulsory and many people will be skipping classes and tutorials ...ehehehehe sounds so much similar to the case back home in Malaysia :-)</div>
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was told that we will be needing graphic calculator ....and he said the brand new one costs about $135 ....bloody hell ...it is so expensive!!!! and there are cheaper version but not as good as that one ...i am going to go for a cheaper version tomorrow ...</div>
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and we were also told that we need to get the text book ...the new one costs $80-90 hahahaha that is equivalent to one nice pair of jeans here ...or a nice jacket (on sale price!) ...or a pair of boots!!! so what did I do??? I went to trademe - a website where we can buy or sell pre-loved items or even finding a roommates, car, etc etc. And guess what - a lot of copies of the textbook in question and the prices vary ..ranging from $30 - $80 for second hand books ...but, lucky me, I bought one book for ....wait for it .....jeng jeng jeng ...$20 (plus $5 delivery charges) ...cheap ehhhh ..hahaha i am so happy!!! at least i am saving approximately $60 there :-) </div>
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anyway, this class is a one hour class so, we are having 3 classes a week ...today was ok ...and I am hoping the rest will be ok as well ...i am not looking forwards to its 7 assignments, mid term test and final exam test. Was told that the final exam test is a 3-hour exam!!! Has been so long since I do tests of this nature ...wish me lucks guys ...</div>
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Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-25467637544193812452013-03-01T19:45:00.001+08:002013-03-01T19:45:06.842+08:00One month on ...<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have been here for a month!!! yeayyyyy!!!! after such a long process and delay to get here, i am finally here ..the first week was hard - as I was missing the boys so much ..but four weeks on, I felt like I have been here longer than these measly four weeks :-) </div>
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once upon a time, when I first started, my study desk at the flat was like this ...now, you could barely see the surface as it is covered with lots of things ...papers, books, maps, photographs ..the occasional food wrappers (for survival, eating is a must!)</div>
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I have been rather preoccupied with works ...with readings and various tasks ..my SV have been piling up a lot of reading materials on my desk, and me being the perfectionist, always wanted to do those reading as soon as it was given to me. So far so good ..i managed to get things done the way i wanted to ..but as the weeks get on ..i find that it is harder to do so ..not that i don't know how to do it (i mean it is just reading) ..but the more i read, the more i discuss with my SV, the more complex the issues become ....and the more confused i become ....i thought i had everything nicely done before ..thought i know about what i wanted to do ...know the area of study ...hahaha what a joke ...within 4 weeks my SV and i had meet 5 times ...and we have managed to dissect my proposal ... i am happy with it now, and so does Phil....but it is far from over ...i still need LOTS of work to make it presentable, logical, academically sound bla bla bla ....</div>
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I was confused a lot of time hahahaha but luckily i remember what Dr M taught me before ..he said that you will bound to be confused - dont know what to do - have to redo things a couple of time -but that is all good ...as it means that you are thinking ..if you are not confused, that means that there must be something seriously wrong hahahaha the wise words from my mentor! And when i was so stress out, i had a talk with him ..hahaha and guess what, he told me not to work so hard at the early stage :-) so, here i am updating my blog, doing some blogwalking, and relaxing in front of boring Kiwi telly programmes ..basically doing nothing at all hahaha ...and it feels good!</div>
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and next week marks another chapter to my road to PhD ...was advised to enroll in a statistics course ...coz it will be very beneficial to me later on when it comes to my data analysis stage... i am using mixed methods but i am not so familiar with quantitative methods - especially in constructing composite indices ..and my SV had managed to persuade me that composite indices are very significant in my research ...ergo, i have to attend proper statistics class ...and it is not just a "sit-in" exercise - Phil said that if it is just a sit-in exercise, I may not pay as much attention to it ...so I am enrolling as a "proper" students ...and there will be assignments and exams ...if i am not mistaken the final exams will either be 100% or 75% ...arghhhhhhh ....not something that I am looking forward to...but, like fendi said - <i>aku kan suka cabaran</i> - hahaha so I am giving it my best ....the classes is 3 hours a week but they split it into 3 one-hour classes ...and on top of that I will be sitting in another theory class ...it is a three-hour lecture and finishes at 7pm ....so definitely getting busier starting next week ...</div>
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and it will only be my second month of PhD ..still a longgggggggggg way to go ...</div>
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Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-2264872526764242132013-03-01T17:39:00.002+08:002013-03-01T17:39:54.096+08:00missing my mom<br />Two sundays ago, I went for a walk with my flatmates ..we were bored, and went to Botanic Garden. It is not far from our place, but it is such a hilly place ...i put all the pictures in the other blog (<a href="http://30-somethinglifeonthefastlane.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/wellington-botanic-garden.html">check it out</a>) ..the flowers are awesome .but i am kind of sad as it really reminded me of my mom...my mom loves roses ..we used to have this really big bush of red roses at home in Sri Aman ..and smaller buses of small pink roses ..and she also plants some red roses at our house in Kuching ...i miss those roses at my backyard!<br />
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I took a lot of pics of the roses and sent it to Jane via whatsapp and FB so that Jane can show them to mom ..as expected, she was in awe ...hahaha my mom is easily pleased! but, i miss her so much ...and seeing those roses really tug at my heart string!somehow I dont think I will be taking here though (when she visits me here/ coz it is too hilly and she is definitely not able to climb those steep hills ..unless I take her by car and park at the entrance of Lady Norwood Rose Garden :-)<br />
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these are just a couple of photos - there are so many beautiful roses there at Botanic Garden ...plenty of vibrant colours :-) I just wish my mom is here with me ..i miss our gossiping moments ..our mother-daughter moments ..but thank God for technology. I can actually video call her thru TALK on my phone ..it is not the same but at least we can see each when we are talking ...<br />
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me and my mom, with my nephew and niece ..taken a few days before I left for Welly</div>
<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-19285257786512053312013-02-20T03:30:00.000+08:002013-02-20T03:30:00.442+08:00Little Penang, WellingtonOne of the first cafes that I saw when I was exploring Wellington a day after I arrived here is Little Penang ...my heart was dancing with joy when I saw the menu ..they offer asam laksa in their menu! How happy I was coz it is one of my fav food hahaha ...fav food in a long list of fav foods hahahaha ..the day I found this small cafe I did not eat there, as I already had a late breakfast ...but last Saturday, I went there for lunch ..and guess what did I order??? of course, it is my favourite dish ...the assam laksa <br />
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it wasn't that spicy ...but I love it ...it will be one of my favourite places to visit when I am down or stress ..i know it will be my place to drown my sorrow or to cheer me up ...coz everyone who knows me know that I am easily cheered up with food :-)<br />
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Amongst others Little Penang's menu also include nasi lemak, karipap, teh tarik, ais kacang, bubur cha cha ..bubur pulut hitam ..char kuey teow ....just to name a few :-) <br />
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I always carry a paperback with me ...to read while waiting for my lunch ..while waiting for the bus etc ...my current reading is this paperback by Jonathan Kellerman ... makes a change from my heaps of journal articles and books ...<br />
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anyway, so far I have tried the assam laksa at Little Penang ...and before this I had tried the char kuey teow at Cinta ...maybe i should try Satay Kajang House for my next meal??? Watch this space ...<br />
<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-38097658937641414512013-02-18T17:44:00.000+08:002013-02-18T17:44:23.283+08:00Student life It is a huge change for me ..usually I am the lecturer and giving advice or guidance to students doing their final year projects ..but now the table is turned..I am on the other side of that table now ...it is a bit weird ...and now, I am on my 3rd week as postgraduate student here in Wellington ...so many changes ..so many things I have to learn ..and life as I know it is basically gone ....<br />
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gone were the days where I go to work, and had lunches at Pinang Bistro with my friends ..gone were the days where I just work and then come back home to yummy home cook meals ...gone were the days that I spend time with the kiddos ...it is now such a lonely existence ...I study ...go to my office ....go to the library ...discuss with my sv ..go back to my flat ...and looking forward to video talk with my family ...and at the back of my mind - I want to finish early (well, who doesnt?) so that I can be home soon ....<br />
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well there is a saying that says "If life give you lemons, make lemonade.." ...so, I am making a promise to myself that I will enjoy my NZ experience ...whilst at the same time study like mad (afterall, this is the main reason I am here...)..i am not focusing all 24 hours of my day 7 days a week on my study ...I want to know more about Wellington - its tourist attractions ..its best kebab shops ..or best fish and chip places ...just to name a few ....i did that last weekend - exploring the city on my own ....next weekend, I will go to different place ....and the weekend after that .....i dont want to be holed up in my office or my flat ...I want some me time ....<br />
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view from VUW</div>
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I was given an office space - sharing with 3 guys ...I dont really like my office coz at first glance, they are not so friendly ...but my sv persuaded me to try the room when i told him that i prefer to do my work either in the library or my own flat ...my sv said, it should try the office (even though he know that I was hinting for a change of space) ..and I did give it a try ...and a week on, I find that I can work well in the office ...there is no noise as everyone is busy with their own thing ...but now the guys are talking to me, so I dont feel like I am an outsider anymore ...plus, I got to know where things are - like the pantry, the toilet (hahaha this is important!), the vending machine and so on ...it starts to feel familiar ...<br />
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I suppose what I am trying to say is that, I miss my "old routines" and I have become very complacent and comfortable in that environment ...but coming here and becoming a student is a new challenge for me ...I cant be complacent anymore ...been struggling hard to fight the black dragon in order to come here, so I know I have to work hard ...but, i am a postive person...will be working smart instead and spend some time for myself ....so if life gives you lemons, make lemonade people ....and that will mke us enjoy our life ..and be stress-free :-)<br />
<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-20022722441201359802013-02-10T13:09:00.001+08:002013-02-10T13:09:08.488+08:00Wellington Sunday Market (Willis Street)<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have to face the fact that I need to do a lot more cooking if I were to live within my budget when I am here ..Unlike in Malaysia, where food are cheap and easily available, here things are more expensive (considering the exchange rate and all) ...last Wednesday, I went out for a dinner out with my flat mates to Cinta - one of the Malaysian eateries here in Wellington, and I can roughly estimate how much a meal out would cost ..the portions are huge, mind you! It is a treat to be able to eat out and not having to cook ...but, honestly, if I were to keep to my budget, i will not survive long ..hahaha as the cheapest main mean there is between NZD10 - 12 ...i had done a posting on that outing in the other blog (<a href="http://30-somethinglifeonthefastlane.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/makanan-malaysia-di-wellington.html">check it out!</a>)</div>
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So, I was introduced to the Sunday Market by my flatmates ...Maryam loves fruits and veges and she took me to the Sunday Market on Willis Street Car Park last week ...the prices are very much cheaper than the fruits and veges at the supermarket ...but if you want to get a fresh produce, come early ...as they say, early birds get the worms (eeewwwwww!!!!)</div>
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you are free to pick and choose whatever you want here ..and bring the chosen items to the front where the sellers will calculate your purchase very different from my experience in Newcaastle, where you have to tell the seller what you want, and they will weigh and get the items for you ..and most of the time, i ended up with fruits and veges that are not that good anymore ...here, you can choose for yourself- which is great!!!</div>
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and unlike in Newcastle, I can easily find veges like in Malaysia - sawi, labu air (though I dont eat it), morning glory (kangkong), lemongrass, galangal and herbs like basil (selasih), kesum and so on ...it is great ...these are also widely available in Asian Suermarket, albeit at a higher price (that's what I am told coz I have yet to go to the Asian Market)</div>
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a bunch of morning glory (kangkong) is NZD2 a bunch ..last week I saw there was a stall which sell it at NZD1 ..i guess, depending on the seller</div>
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there are really cheap stuffs here ..like a head of brocolli (very fresh) is only a dollar ..similar prices for cauliflower, celery etc ...coz different stalls have different prices, it is a matter of going round the stalls to check out the prices ....there are also stalls which sell a not so fresh item, and of course they are much cheaper ..like last week i bought a bag of button mushroom for NZD1.50, but if i were to buy the most fresh mushroom it is NZD8.99 a kilo ...huge difference! so, take your pick ...and Maryam got a huge celery today for only a dollar, and when w went to the Metro on Willis, a similarly size celery is NZD4.99 ...again, huge difference ...</div>
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love the vibrant colours!</div>
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Judging by the advantages of buying fruits and veges at the Sunday Market, you can definitely bet that I will be shopping here every sunday! I need to save money - as Fendi said - save money for my travels! By the way, there is another Sunday Market here in Wellington, the other one is near the harbour and a bit far from my flat ...but maybe, I will check that one out one of these days :-)</div>
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Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-44962014435841643392013-02-09T11:22:00.000+08:002013-02-09T11:22:31.338+08:00Week 1 in WellingtonI am in Wellington now ...finally! I have been here for over a week, and during that time have already met my SV twice :-) but as i said in my <a href="http://30-somethinglifeonthefastlane.blogspot.co.nz/">shared blog</a> with my friends, so far so good ..and I am hoping things will go smoothly for me....<br />
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Anyway, left Kuching on Monday, 29th Jan for a morning flight to Singapore, and after an 8 hour transit in Singapore, I left for Sydney using a British Airways flight ..the long 8 hour journey was comfy as I was given a business class seat (woot woot!!!) and managed to sleep for almost 7 hours! Arrived early morning to a wet and cold Sydney, and after a two and half hour transit, got into the connecting flight to Wellinton. A flight that took about 3 hours landed on a hot sunny Wellington at 2.30 pm Welly time ...and by then I was so tired I could barely think straight ...it was about 28 hours since my flight left Kuching ..and the journey was long and dragging!<br />
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I had requested for a pick-up at the airport before that, so I was not worried about how to get to my flat ....so, to see this lass holding a placard with my name on it was a great relief ....and an hour later I was sent to my flat at Wai-te-ata ...found out i am sharing a flat with an Iranian PhD student and n Indonesian Master students ...both are nice and welcoming ...when Maryam knew I had just arrived after a long journey, she even made me some tea ..and gave me a plate of fruits! How nice of her ..and she is the one in the room opposite me :-) ..then Anita came home from her class ..and she cooked extra noodles for me ..coz she said should eat something and not bothered about going out to find food that day ..as I was so tired ..so, after a quick dinner with Anita, I slept like a log and woke up late the next day ....<br />
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Now it has been over a week ...Anita has taken me shopping for groceries at Pak & Save at Kilbirnie ...had shown me Asian Market behind Pak & Save ...and how to use the bus ..and Maryam had taken me to Sunday Market at Willis Street ..and the New World Supermarket nearby ...I explored the uni and the surrounding a couple of times ...and so far everything is ok ...so, this is going to be my home for the next 3 years ...<br />
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leaving them was hard ...and they miss me too apparently ..and Thank God for skype, viber and Talk!</div>
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on a nice sunny day </div>
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did I mention that Wellington is such a hilly area? </div>
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but with awesome view of the sea and the harbour :-)</div>
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<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-37502331047914201752013-01-21T00:30:00.000+08:002013-01-21T00:30:02.412+08:00Chilling at the cottageOne of our favourite places to chill is the cottage ...we love it there ...it is quiet, and away from people ..we have a complete privacy there ..and we dont usually have visitors there -sort of by invitation only (feeling ala ala celebrity) ...<br />
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the kids love it here coz they are able to just play outside the house ..and lots of activities to do ...there is a fish pond and a natural river at the back, and that is where we usually go for fishing ...mum and myself love to potter round the cottage and its gardens ....dad love it out here coz he has lots of fruit trees here ...both mum and dad tend to go here when they want to get away from their babysitting duties hehehe ....<br />
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Photo was taken by Al - dad was trimming what he hope to be the main landscape feature of the cottage - he plan to have this plant to grow and be shaped as a welcoming arch :-)</div>
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Fruit picking is one of the fun activities here at the cottage ...lots of rambutans, cempedaks, jackfruits, durians and what nots here ...but for the first time ever, last Dec we harvested our mata kucing ...it was fun!<br />
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not bad for a first harvest :-)</div>
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It is kind of nice to have a place to go to just to chill ...and what makes it great was it is a completely private place ....still a lot to be done here but we are taking our time ...<br />
<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-46607811022089306832013-01-20T15:50:00.002+08:002013-01-20T15:50:54.666+08:00counting the daysLast Friday was my last official day at work ...I didnt even know it till lunchtime that day ...was so busy with marking and keying in the marks that I had forgotten about checking my leave. Once the marks were endorsed, and when I wanted to apply for leave, I realised that I had 6 days leave to take ..and I can only take 4 days since there is a public holiday next week hahaha and guess what, i had mixed feelings about all this ..one the one hand, I am excited but I am somehow feeling something is not right ..like I am leaving a place that is so comfortable and familiar ..and somehow it is difficult for me to let go ...but i know i have to go ..coz it is my dream. I have been fighting so hard for this chance ...<br />
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and since yesterday I have been trying to be realistic ...I have started to pack some of my stuffs ..much to the displeasure of Al - who kept on pulling things out from my luggage ...and I also started to spend more time (as much as I can) with the kids ...I am so gonna miss them!<br />
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And being realistic means I am finally making a list of what I should do, bring or buy ...amongst other I have to:<br />
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(i) get all my documents copied and certified, <br />
(ii) settling all my standing orders so that all my payments are on time;<br />
(iii) clearing personal items from my office; and<br />
(iv) making time to meet my close friends for farewell hahaha and that usually involve food!<br />
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But one thing that I am so happy to have done before I go was to spend the weekend with my besties ...had a really fun weekend in KL last week ...just chilling and relaxing with friends ...<a href="http://www.30-somethinglifeonthefastlane.blogspot.com/2013/01/reunion-meletops.html">an awesome weekend!</a><br />
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<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-2316764225830268562013-01-10T09:10:00.000+08:002013-01-10T09:10:00.149+08:00Christmas at the longhose 2012We celebrated Christmas at the longhouse last year ...Dad has been renovating the longhouse for months and it was basically done (except for the finishing touches) a few days before Christmas. And it is also the first time EVER that all of us were there together to celebrate Christmas ...the whole clam was there, including Umang who visited Sarawak (and the longhouse) for the first time ..so it was a very noisy affairs with 3 kids and 7 adults in the house :-)<br />
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We went back to the longhouse on 23rd Dec - and believe it or not, we used 3 cars! Too much stuffs to bring with us, specially with the kids' stuffs taking about half of the storage space...we also transported the presents and the food stuffs ....luckily we have a spare Christmas tree at the longhouse, so i was tasked to set it up and re-arrange the presents ..mountains of presents this years - and more than half are for the three kids ....Al was the most excited at opening presents hehehehe and he helped adik to open adik's pressies.<br />
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Christmas is usually time for family - to know new family member, rebonding of the relatives and strengthening family ties ...we have 2 new family members this time round - Umang and her daddy ....dad was introducing them to our close relatives ...we had a private bbq party at the cottage on Christmas eve ....which was a roaring success ...everyone was very happy ...to finally be on holiday hahaha I was the odd one coz I was on leave since the 20th december :-)<br />
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Dom and family plus mum went to chrch early on Christmas day, while I stayed back and do the cooking ..a very untypical christmas dish ...as making sup tulang (request from my dad), and re-heating the dishes that my mom had cooked before she left ....Umang and my sister also stayed back coz they are preparing to go to her inlaws' place after lunch that day ....she wants to wait for everybody to get back from the church and to open our presents together ....<br />
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Umang having her breakfast on Christmas morning</div>
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Mum wanted a portrait with all her grandkids ..but it was not a smooth process ..all three kiddos were not co-operating as they were more interested in doing their own things ...hahahah poor mum ...after a few attempts, the pic above was the best shot of the lot ...both al and adik were doing their own things hahaha<br />
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Umang's other aki came just before lunch to pick them up ....also Umang's first trip to her dad's longhouse ...they left after lunch, and after we opened our presents ....and guess what, coz we were so disorganised (hahaha) we completely forgotten to have our family photo on Christmas morning!<br />
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The rest of the holidays were great ...lots of visitors - my cousins and their families came over to see mom and dad ....other people from the longhouse visiting from door-to-door ...it was such a merry holiday :-) Usually Gawai is merrier than Christmas ...but somehow, I just feel that the last christmas was awesome ...dad had a grand time ...I had a good rest, doing absolutely nothing but eat, sleep and be merry ...<br />
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we also went to Pantu to visit family friends .. this elderly couple has been friends with my parents for a long time.<br />
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We waited for Umang to come back to the longhouse on 29th before heading back to Kuching. Dom & family meanwhile, headed to his inlaws' on the same day as they were spending the NY with jane's mom. It was a tearful scene again when we bid goodbyes ...especially for my sister and Al ....Coz by the time Jane and the kids came back to Kuching on NY day, Umang would have already reached KL ...so, that's explains the tears and the sad faces<br />
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the sad scenes - it was always like this everytime these two say goodbyes to each other!<br />
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It was a great and memorable time spent with family. It is very seldom that we get a chance to be together under one roof every Christmas ...at least dad was very happy to see everyone there. He kept on saying that, if his parents are still alive, my grandparents would have been very proud of us ...my granddad died in 1987, whilst my grandmother died in 2004 ...that's why our longhouse is empty, and we only stay overnight there like 1-2 times a year ....but now that dad has renovated the place, and it is beginning to look like home, i think we will be going there more often ...<br />
<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-30833783592412137342013-01-10T00:08:00.001+08:002013-01-10T00:08:17.340+08:00a week into 2013my first posting for 2013 ...a week and a half into the new year ...as usual my days are filled with chores - both at work and at home ...it is the exam season at work, so i am up to my neck in marking and exam invigilation duties ..so, not really have idle time to do a posting ....so, here's a quick posting on how i am faring in the new year:<br />
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feel so good that I am finally sorted in terms of my documents for PhD: visa sorted before Christmas, tiket bought and confirmed, supervisor has been notified of my arrival, accommodation paid for throughout this summer holiday, my leave from this uni has been sorted, all agreement and documentation signed and returned to relevant units ...so, all is well - so far so good, so lets all keep your fingers crossed for me :-)<br />
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another great news - ticket to KL for this weekend was bought - so I will be meeting my besties in KL for our ronggeng ...it is something that we have been looking forward to ..and this will be the very first time the whole gang will be there ...our first reunion in Bandung was incomplete coz Ita wasn't there ...and subsequent meetings were never complete :-) so, here's to a great weekend of makan makan and gosip gossip with the gang ....and it is only 2 days away! here's my wishlist for the weekend - nasi dagang, lompat tikam, murtabak, tomyam ...and of course the seafood meals and, if the time permits, lunch at Chillies - i want the molten lava cake!!!<br />
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the not so great news is that I have tonnes of marking to be done by 18th Jan ...and that is a very short time span ...i can feel that i will be burning midnight oil in order to meet the dateline ....and that could trigger my asthma ....-which is not something that I am looking forward to...so i am taking extra precaution - no iced drinks, no carbonated drinks, less caffeine ..and to try to reduce anxiety ....<br />
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plus I am feeling sad ...i will be leaving my comfort zone, and somehow the nearer the time, the less excited I become ...i must get a grip coz once i am there, there is no turning back ..and it is not an easy journey ...and I am praying that things will go smoothly for me ...<br />
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ok, enough of the rambling - back to marking now!<br />
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Happy New Year 2013 everybody, wherever you are. Have a blessed year ahead ...<br />
<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-44874946225107506062012-12-23T01:46:00.000+08:002012-12-23T01:46:00.152+08:00countdown to ChristmasOur tree is up ...and all the presents are wrapped ...all that is left to do is to enjoy Christmas with my family<br />
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Umang and her parents are spending Christmas here with us, and with their arrival, our family are complete ...everyone under the same roof ..and that really makes my parents happy ...<br />
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will be leaving for the cottage soon - and will update more on our christmas countdown later :-) it will be Umang's first Christmas ... and my last christmas in my 30s hehehehe ....<br />
<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-67652637764733866782012-12-22T01:40:00.003+08:002012-12-22T01:40:30.512+08:00Surprise Farewell PartyI am utterly and completely shocked ...my students organised a surprise farewell party for me and I was not aware of it ...I thought I was attending a party to mark their end of the semester, a party to celebrate the end of classes and before the final exam ..liitle did I know, I was the guest of honour!<br />
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they have cakes, and speeches and all that - I am so honoured an touched by it all ..all the other lecturers from my programme knew about it, but no one let the cat out of the bag ...even the Dean was in the know ...<br />
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they even prepared a performance segment lol very entertaining ..these guys are so funny ...making jokes and all that, and their song choices are awesome ...said that they chose "I will survive" as one of the songs, just to let me know that they will survive till the end of their course no matter what, and so that I do not have to worry about them - how sweet!!! I am so touched by their kind words, wishes and determination ...<br />
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and I took my nephew with me to the party - he gets on well with the guys!</div>
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Actually, I have been teaching this class for two semester - one of the most interactive groups that I have taught in this uni ...they would argued their points relentlessly, and willing to debate the issues. These sort of interactions are very lively and I do hope that they will remain like this in their other classes ...i sincerely hope that I have given them some knowledge that would be useful for them ...sometime they tested my patience, but most of the time they are ok. just a typical undergraduates ...Just have to remind myself that I was young once, and I was one of those who often skipped class, mischiveous and what not ...<br />
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Guys & girls - thank you so much for the wonderful surprise. It is not something that I'll forget :-) and may all of you be successful in your chosen careers ..Thank you!<br />
<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-21502426999792401992012-12-18T14:21:00.002+08:002012-12-18T14:24:49.488+08:00Medical Check Up for the purpose of student visa (NZ) applicationooolaalaaa ..i had a double date a few weeks ago, had a date with a GP in the morning and another date with a dentist in the afternoon ..not the pleasure-kind of day, but more to the "have-to-see-them" kind of dates ....and those who know me, knows that I hate doctors and dentists ..as I equate them with sickness and pain! but that day, it was the dates that I could not avoid<br />
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the first date was with Dr Robert from Asia Clinic ..his clinic is listed as panel clinic under the NZ Immigration Dept - so, I have to get my medical clearance from him in order to apply for my student visa ..as time was running out, i had no choice but to go that day (as I was leaving for my Kapit field trip the very next day)..the forms by the NZ Immigration was more comprehensive than those required by KPT (for sponsorship purposes). I actually thought that I can re-use my medical result from my previos medical check-up (done a month earlier for KPT) ..but NOOOOOO it was not to be ...as NZ Immigration only wants the medical check up to be done by their list of panel doctors ...hence, my visit to Asia Clinic<br />
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had my weight, height, abdomen, eye etc tested ...also had to do blood test, urine test - the whole works ....but the great thing about this clinic is that it is very efficient... the whole process took less than 25 minutes ...and there was only two other people in the queue in front of me that morning ....the only scary thing for me was when the doctor was about to draw my blood! I absolutely hate it ...but the doctor was so serious (reminded me of my dad's stern face) that I was afraid of making a sound, so i just clenched my hands and tightly squeezed my eyes shut! till he said it is all done ...the nurse was smiling when I finally opened my eyes (bet she knew how scared I was) ....that was that ..and I was told to come again at the clinic to pick up the result in two days ..and for me to go to Normah Specialist Hosp to get my x-ray done ...<br />
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after the dreaded blood test!</div>
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I drove straight to Normah Hosp after that ..I had not had anything to eat since midnight and by the time I was on the way to Normah, I was shaking with hunger ..stopped by a cafe for some kueh and to eat whilst driving ...and when I reached Normah, it was after 11am ...the car park was full and the queue at the Radiology Dept was long ...was finally done by 1.00pm ....<br />
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was still eating inside the car while this photo was taken #famished</div>
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The result was great ...am pronounced medically fit (except that my cholestrol level is a bit on the high side)....and got the reports back upon my return from ny Kapit trip.<br />
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So, a note for those who are applying for a student visa to NZ, you will need to provide <i><b>a completed medical form and chest x-ray form </b></i>- which can only be filled by their recognised panel doctors. In Kuching, there are only two clinics listed in the NZ Immigration, and one of them is Asia Clinic (Padungan - located on the row in front of Country Kitchen). The total cost for medical check-up (inc the x-ray at Normah is RM350) and must allow 2-3 working days before you get your results. Both the medical forms and x-ray form can be downloaded from NZ Immigration website :-) You also need to include in the forms 3 passport-sized photographs as well ...<br />
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and another important reminder is that you must bring your passport with you when you are doing these medical check up ...and the doctor and radiologist have to see the passport for verification of identity :-)<br />
<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-86485095018845828992012-12-12T15:17:00.001+08:002012-12-12T15:17:30.665+08:00Shopping for dadlast saturday we went shopping for dad ....he has been asking us to accompany him but I was always too busy...till mum reminded me about dad's plan ...actually dad was at the point of sulking coz he thought that we are not paying him any attention :-(<br />
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dad got his early Christmas present</div>
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but truth be told, i think we (the children) are, to a certain extend, just focus on our own timetables, and ignoring his needs, or request. we just assume that he is as capable as he was before. On my part, I always see my dad as this very independent person, who is very organised and just go for what he wants ...he seldom request things from us, he is always quiet and contend with what he does ..he is the one we go to when we are in trouble...he is quiet but he gives sound advice ....someone we rely on very much and the one who provide us with basic grounding to life.....along the way, I forget that he is getting old (he retired in Jan 2003 at the age of 55 years old) ...i forget that he may need us more now than before ..and that he might feel "useless" as he is no longer working / earning and have to rely on us for something ....i mean, he is financially independent, never ask a penny from us ....in fact he is the one who give money to the grandkids ...and the one who pay for the utilities bills in my house (he insisted!)....in my dad's case, he is relying on us to chauffer him around Kuching ...he admits that his reflexes are not as fast as before, and he does not want to drive in Kuching, where the cars are just everywhere ....he would still drives himself to Sri Aman and the cottage and the longhouses as those routes have less traffic ....<br />
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A friend of my said, she also faces similar situation with her dad. The more she tried to take care of her dad, the more her dad rebels ...the dad said, he felt very useless and he is not allowed to do anything anymore ...so that same friend advised me to just let my dad does anything he wants, and tried not to restrict his movement ...and to ask them, from time to time, to help me with something - so that he will be useful again ...it is something that I never thought of myself...I just want to take care of them ,and put them in a bubble wrap ...and do nothing ...as i feel that it is high time we, the children, are looking after him ...but I never realise that the parents might construe the situation differently ....<br />
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I hope I will have more time with my dad (and my mum too, of course) ...i could not imagine my life without him ....and leaving in January is hard for me now that my dad is unwell ...i hope, and pray that he is blessed with good health, happiness and longevity ...I love you dad!!! I may not say it often, but I do ....<br />
<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-33060719305768146292012-11-25T12:38:00.002+08:002012-11-25T12:38:25.763+08:00Adik - then and nowwas browsing the lappy to get photos of adik ...I am in the process of selecting photos to be printed off ..and also thinking of having a photobook made to document certain phases of our life...like Adik's and Al's early years ...our family holidays and what nots ....my parents are not satisfied of having pictures of their grandkids in digital form, they prefer the hardcopy versions - in the albums!<br />
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anyway, found these pictures of adik ....i think he was 1 year old at this time ..some photos are blurry as they were taken using my mobile at the time ....and what strikes me was that Adik does not change much over the years ....<br />
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and also, we noticed that most of adik's clothes are RED ...hahahaha ....red suits him very well as he is fair ....his favourite colour which I started on him since he was born. I always, without fail, will buy him several red item of clothing for every special occassion - birthdays, christmas, gawai and what not .....i really think red suits him :-) power colour gitu ...<br />
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it was the, and here's the "now" pictures (taken in 2012):<br />
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he is a big boy now ...and a very cheeky one at that! He is somewhat impatient (like me) ...and he can definitely imitate my <i>mulut muncung</i>! In fact, his <i>mulut muncung </i>is so me that my closest family notice and often commented on ...hahaha a boy after my own heart :-) His daddy often said that he is mama's little boy coz he always run to mama for help, he always look for mama when things dont go his way, and his tantrum is very much similar to mama ....i think the next step is to introduce adik to Uncle Fendi and Aunty Liz - so they can verify if adik's <i>mulut juih</i> is similar to mine ...hahahaha<br />
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Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-31867187997648062162012-11-22T23:18:00.001+08:002012-11-22T23:18:04.298+08:00Adik's schooling experienceIt has been 3 weeks since adik started at his pre-school ...we actually planned to send him to school next year but when Jane met up with the principal, she suggested that Adik start in November ..as there was some slot free ...adik went to a pre-school which specialised in behavioural interventioan ...he has speech delay and upon advice from various professional people, we send him to this school ...we were given a list of names, but we found this one to be the most convenient for us ...and when we checked out the place, we found that we like its structure and the staffs there are very friendly and professional ...and they do not enroll students all at once, it is a staggered process .....since, there was a free slot in November, we immediately took it ....<br />
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a bit sullen on his first day ...hehehe he was not used to waking up early!</div>
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we were all apprehensive about his first day, knowing that Adik is a bit shy and always avoid strangers ...how will he cope in a room full of strangers, and not one familiar face around??? those were the questions that we have ...but, God knows best ...and adik actually coped extremely well on his first day ....we were the ones who have extreme traumatic stresses on that day!<br />
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Like i said earlier, it has been three week already ...we are happy to note that adik has made tremendous progress ...the teachers are telling me that he did well in school ...he even mix around with the older kids, play together etc .....and his anxiety attack is less than before ...he is able to stay the whole 3 hours in the school with people who are not familiar to him ...dont get me wrong, he has his good days and bad days ...there are days that he will cry when daddy drops him off ...but the teacher said he would cry on and off for 30 mins and after that he will be ok ...and there are days when he would wave his daddy off and be independent ....essentially he is coping really well ...much better than we has expected ...it is a long way to go, but at least he has taken the first steps ....<br />
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during my school run day ...</div>
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the decision to send him to school which is a bit far from home was agreed by everyone in the family ...we recognised that there will be times when mummy or daddy will be unable to pick him up ...due to their work commitment ...so, me and my parents are helping anyway we could ...for now, I am helping to pick him up from school ...alternate days with mummy depending on our schedules ...while my dad picks up Al from his school ....it is not easy as everybody has their own work schedule, but for his sake, we are making these arrangements between us ....we love him so much and we pray that these schooling experience will be useful to him in the longrun ....and from this three week, progress can be seen ...am so proud of my little hero!<br />
<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-58294412404036442612012-11-20T15:01:00.002+08:002012-11-20T15:01:43.345+08:00passport renewed! Hassle free @ Simpang TigaRenewed my passport 2 weeks ago. Glad to have it finally settled. Have been procastinating actually, coz my passport expires in June 2013, but as I need to get my visa sorted, I have to renew it earlier ....i thought i would loose the 7 months left from that passport ....but, it was not the case...i only loose a month! As the remaining 6 months was added to the new passport ...yipeee!!!!<br />
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one of the reasons I procastinated with my passport renewal is because I just hate to queue up ...i mean, all these while (hahahaha every 3 to 5 years lah )we have to queue up in order to renew the passport right ...and there are sometime the case of "over-efficiency" (NOT) of the staffs manning Malaysian public service counters ....<i>tak semua, tapi banyak lah kes kes yang dilalui macam tu</i> ....plus the office at Simpang Tiga is notorious for its limited parking spaces. But, as the dateline is drawing near, I had no choice but to get it done ...so, took the day off to get it done .....<br />
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Went there on Thursday afternoon, and found the queue was up to the door and it was a double queue! Went to the information desk to get the forms, and was told I have 3 options (i) renew it using the KIPPAS kiosk on the ground floor; and I can get the passport within 2-3 hours; (ii) renew using online application - so that I dont have to queue; and (iii) wait patiently and that could take hours ...so, I choose option 1 ...beat the queue to the door ...found the kiosk on the ground floor, and there was only 3 person in front of me! The whole process took less that 10 minutes - provided you have all the required documents ready ....very fast and efficient! I never knew this KIPPAS kiosk existed, but now gladly recommended to Malaysians who want to renew their passport to use them - very quick, and hassle free ...but you must bring these items with you at the kiosk:<br />
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(i) the passport that you want to renew;<br />
(ii) a photocopy of your Identity Card;<br />
(iii) your original Identity Card;<br />
(iv) a passport sized photograph - must be a recent one, and should not be the same one as used in your old (or to be renewed) passport;<br />
(v) cash - it was RM300 for a 5 year renewal or RM100 for two year renewal<br />
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then after you are through with the renewal, the staff will take your documents and he/she will tell you when your passport can be collected. Mine was ready in 2 hours but I dont want to wait - so i collected mine the following day .....again, it was hassle free (very pleasant surprise!) and took me less than 5 minutes ....it took me longer to find a parking spot there!<br />
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so, there you go ....now we have options when it comes to avoiding queues when renewing passport - a good thing indeed! <br />
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so, have passport - will travel ...hehehehehe<br />
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<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-39177594365614017582012-11-19T17:55:00.003+08:002012-11-19T17:55:41.888+08:00my little heroesPeople always made a mistake when they saw me with the boys ....even my aquaitances whom I knew through FB or twitter made the same mistakes ...they thought these two monkeys are my sons ...well, they are actually my nephews but i have been taking care of them since they are little ....especially when their mummy and daddy were working outside Sarawak a couple of years ago ....mummy was in Ridyah for a year, and at the same time daddy was in KL ....but the boys stayed with me in Kuching ...so, yeah, in my heart, I consider them as my own :-)<br />
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my manja boy, Airell</div>
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my cheeky monkey, Alistair</div>
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I was talking to a group of friends from the office a couple of weeks ago, and they said that they have stumbled upon my 30-something blog, and were among the silent readers ...hehehe thanks guys (said they prefer the BM version!) ..and one of them said your sons are cute...are you taking them with you to NZ? I told her that these are my nephews and she was so surprised ...said she always assumed they are my sons ...afterall, they called me mama, and we were very close .....deep down in my heart, these monkeys are more than my nephews ...love them like my own! definitely going to miss them terribly next year when I am gone ......<br />
<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-89095851416666233002012-11-09T11:31:00.003+08:002012-11-09T11:31:30.737+08:00lady in black?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">some photos taken at our office gatherings ...</span></div>
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this was earlier in the year during Gawai celebration at our faculty ...as usual I am wearing black - my official office attire according to some people :-)</div>
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during Raya celebration at Uni level ...I am not wearing black as the event was held outdoor :-)</div>
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during Students' Annual Dinner (again wearing black!)</div>
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after Faculty Retreat - hahahaha again was in black (with green cardy!)</div>
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and it struck me that I was always in black! Someone pointed it out to me before but I thought he was joking. But looking back at all these photos, most of my outfit is black ....i only ever use other colours on top of my black outfit - like a cardigan, a shawl, or bright accessories like necklace and bags and shoes ....<br />
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<i>pas nie jadi budak itam le nampak nyer :-)</i><br />
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<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372363407380247822.post-58075185794701772332012-10-30T20:30:00.000+08:002012-10-30T20:30:00.459+08:00playtime at schoolJane left her camera at school last Thursday and the teachers took a few photos of Al and his friends during school time. That day Al requests for a cake for his teachers and friends (i wrote it in the <a href="http://30-somethinglifeonthefastlane.blogspot.com/2012/10/bawak-kek-gi-sekolah.html">other blog</a> -<i> malas nak ulang </i>here) ..and since he has been behaving recently, (read: no fuss when it comes to going to school, homework done, doing extra work at home without being prompted) we decided to indulge him ...<br />
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the photos were a revelation to us ...it shows us the side of Al that we seldom see ...of him interacting with his classmates ...how happy he was with the other kids ... and what their activities are at school ...<br />
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he looks so happy at school ... and to think that we were so apprehensive to let him go to school at the beginning of the year! How we thought that, since he is a shy boy, that it would not be easy for him to mix around with the other kids ....but, it has turned out very well ...in the next couple of weeks, they will be having a long school break ....and that will mark the end of Al's first year at kindy :-)<br />
<br />Ejinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01672385814203490927noreply@blogger.com2