Posts (page 2)
I'm not feeling really thrilled right now. I just got the result for my Journalism and Society paper and I'm unhappy that I just got a P. Granted I did not put my 100% into it but to me, I think it deserved a C at least. Oh well, at least I passed it. I've gotten a D and a C respectively for the previous two gradings so I think if I do well for my next assg I should be looking at a C, hopefully a D. For my other subjects, I'm doing alright for Screen Texts, getting a D for my first assignment. I hope to do well for my presentation and second assignment. I've been writing about 500 words each day. Hopefully it will impress my lecturer. As for Print News, I haven't gotten any feedback to whether I'm doing okay or not but I'm just guessing that it can't be too bad. Just need to practice my inDesign. I must remember to talk to my lecturer about my feature story. I have sent him a draft but he has not gotten back to me yet.
Later I'm going job hunting with Jeremy. We're going to just pass our resumes to some shops. I've been looking for a job since July. Maybe I'm not searching hard enough. I've submitted my applications both online and through physical handing in but so far, no luck. Could be a sign that I'm not meant to get a job now. Perhaps I should concentrate on my studies? Anyway, I just hope that all goes well. Could get a mood-upper right now.
Even though I have been living abroad for awhile, one thing I have not mastered is the skill of cooking. It came as a disadvantage to me. One day I self-invited to a dinner party. It was a bad experience because even though someone else cooked for me, I inconsiderately complained about the food, proceeded to throw the food then left the place. I did pay for my share of the dinner but I left a pretty bad impression. The people then told other people about it and only today the news got to me. I felt ashamed by my actions so I contacted the said people to apologize. Luckily for me, they were willing to accept my apology.
This week is assignments week and next week all the work is due. However, I have some dilemma going on on whether I should "derive" some information from my friend's work to help with my assignment. I'm not necessarily copying or plagiarising but I am just getting some tips on how to do my assignment as I am clueless to what is going on. Shame on me for being so ignorant during classes. I guess this is my punishment. I will make sure that there will not be much similarities though as it will get me into huge trouble. This is my last semester and I have enough trouble already as it is.
So far I've been going out everyday since I came back. Window shopping, eating, hanging out with friends. I guess Perth is growing on me again.
Something unexpected happened today although I will not divulge into it. One thing I've learned is not to dwell in the past but live in the present. Currently reading Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now. Hope that this book will change my life.
Hey reader! Surprised to see me? I know its been ages. I can say that everything in my life had been going on so smoothly for the past few months that the thought of blogging escapes my mind. But here I am back again with more stories to tell. Unfortunately today, it is not a very happy story. It was the end of my fairytale romance. The prince whom I thought was a prince after a string of toads turned out to be a toad too. Story of my life.
But I'm happy to say that it hit the 6-month mark. A record-breaking feat seeing that none of the other relationships last more than 3 months. The difference is that this is long distance. I guess guys can't bear staying with me for more than 3 months, huh? Just a reckoning.
So tomorrow's my semester class test. I'm handing in my final news story tomorrow. Presentation and another test on Wednesday. Then I'm done for the semester! Flying back home on Saturday. Was supposed to stay for five days but because of the changes of events I'm staying two weeks instead. I miss home badly. I love Perth but nothing beats home, seriously. The scents, the sights, the surroundings. Heck, I even miss my smelly dog. No one looks happier to see me each time I come home even though I ignore him.
The first thing I will do when I get back is to savour the delicacies of Malaysia. Nasi Lemak, Assam Laksa, come to me! Then of course meeting up family and friends. Need to visit my ailing grandmother. She's special to me, a very loving grandmother who always make sure all of us are well-fed. Then the friends that I have grown up with. Friends who saw me through thick and thin, through the hook ups and the break ups. People that I will cherish forever and never ever take for granted. You know who you are.
I think the people I want to meet most is Mom and Dad. They gave me all types of support through the whole ordeal, financial, emotional and psychological. At my darkest moments, they were who I turned to.
Going back also may give me time to reflect. Reflect on the past 6 months. What has happened. The lesson learnt. The scars healing as the wounds close. The happiest moments of my life as well as the saddest. Life is truly a rollercoaster ride. You don't expect the sudden dips and turns...and twists that scares the hell out of you. But I have grown. Even though I don't admit it but I have grown more mature and wiser in all these. Being in Australia, I learned how to take care of myself. Something I never thought would happen. I learned how to be my own best friend when there is no one else to turn to at night. At my lowest point, it was God and myself that pulled me through.
Right now I just want to say thank you. Thank you to people who have shaped my life. For the good and the bad. For the joy and the pain. It has been an eventful 6 months. Probably one of the greatest lessons ever learnt.
Yesterday was a lesson. Today is a present. Tomorrow's a mystery.
It has been ages since I actually blogged. Life has caught on with me and I guess I found better things to do than blog. This week is Easter break. However, I didn't really make full use of it. Should have gone on a short trip or at least go out more often. I seem to be stuck at home most of the time, surprisingly. I thought I would be doing my assignment but that seems not to be the case. I don't even know what I do at home.
I do realise I'm online everyday but I don't know why there isn't a need to blog. Maybe I've grown out of the blogging phase. Anyway, I treasure the times I spend with people around me. My church members, my friends and pre-friends. You never know who you will meet. Like today I went for a potbless at church and I got to meet my senior pastor. He's such a nice person and he was genuinely interested to get to know us personally. He's also very down-to-earth. I like his approachable demeanor.
I'm planning to serve more in church. I feel that coming to Australia, I have an opportunity to grow spiritually. In so many ways, I'm constantly surrounded by Christians. I have alot of time in my hands in which I can use to serve the Lord. It is a good time to start. I'm planning to do so this Sunday with the Ministry of Helps. I believe that when you put God first in your life, all things will be added unto you.
Of course I will not neglect my studies in the meantime. I will work harder in my studies too, because I haven't been putting in my 100%. Coming here, my main purpose is to study. To experience the Aussie life too, I know but the main objective is studying. I think I would be very disappointed if I don't achieve reasonably well here. Alot of money has been invested into coming here and I think my parents would be upset too if I didn't do well.
I feel that coming here is also an opportunity for me to mature. I'm left all alone by myself. I think people will mature when they are independent. I hope by the end of this stay I will become an independent person. I want to be able to stand on my own two feet. To be able to earn my own living soon and to say that I can live in this world without depending on anyone. That would be an achievement for me.
Mark your calendars on April 13th and May 30th, people who are living in Perth!
Why, you ask?
Well, big international acts like Pussycat Dolls, Lady GaGa and Jason Mraz are coming to town! April 13th is the Blues and Roots festival, where numerous local and international acts will be performing. Starting from April 9th through April 13th, this festival is not to be missed for blues listeners. In May, Lady Gaga will be performing alongside Pussycat Dolls in a one day only concert in Perth. The Queen of electro-pop Lady Gaga, get ready to be "wowed" by her sexy outfits, unmistakable voice and hit singles such as "Just Dance" and "Poker Face"
I'm guilty of listening non-stop to "Poker Face". I hate to admit it but I'm actually listening to electro-pop! Apparently, I'm a closet electro-pop listener =P It is very addictive, okay? Ever since I came to Ozzie, its been on the airplay in every departmental store I went to, infecting my earbuds with the chorus. It came to a point where I couldn't take it anymore and I went to Kmart to get a copy of the album. I think this is the first time in years that I bought an actual original CD. Ever since the emergence of mp3 downloads, I have not been buying any CDs, no matter how much I like the artist. But the limitations of my bandwidth here in Perth has restricted my downloading close to none.
Fret not, however! I shall be listening and WATCHING Lady Gaga perform live soon! I hope I can get tickets. Its been awhile since I've went to a live concert with an international superstar performing. They don't come to Malaysia to perform and even when they do, I usually am too "kiamsiap" to pay for the tickets.
Anyway, I'll just leave you with another breathtaking photo of the sunset last evening.
Finally had a good jog around the suburb. 4.1km!!! With Suds, baby Caryn, Kelvin Fok and two other guys I just met with Chinese names, thus, me not remembering their names. I was the slowest because I was so tired. It seemed like a never ending trail. Tomorrow classes resume again. At least distraction from shopping. I've been spending alot of money on clothes, food, groceries and other misc such as bus fares (prior to me getting the Smartrider card). Lately been having rather late nights just hanging around in friends' flats chatting about nothing at all.
I've got nothing much to update about actually. It's a miracle that I even decided to update because I don't feel like a good blogger after all, with sporadic updates and close to none pictures. Need to get into my blogging mood again. Till then, WA (wait awhile)!
One of the first Australian lingo I learned when I landed in Perth International Airport was Wait Awhile. The lady who picked us up told me that WA does not only stand for Western Australia but it stands for Wait Awhile, referring to the laid back lifestyle in Perth. So far it has been good, taking things slowly at one time. Although there are so many tasks to be done, I take my time to do them instead of rushing. Visiting places, meeting new people, eating good food, shopping, settling enrollment and administrative tasks are what I have been doing for the past two weeks that I have been here.
The first few days were difficult because of some complications but as the days go by, the Lord's grace has been sufficient and I was able to overcome them. There are still alot of things to settle but I just wanted to take a breather and update my cobweb infested site.
Internet here makes me regret taking Streamyx for granted. Here you have fast connection but it is limited bandwidth. For my first time connection, I paid AUD29 for 2GB!!! I've recharged now, and it was AUD49 for 4GB. So that means no uploading photos or downloading dramas. How upsetting is that!
But other things keep me busy. I'm glad I made so many Malaysian and Singaporean friends. For the first time, I'm not so hooked to the Internet. I actually have a social life! LOL. Everyday I'm out doing something. Last week I went to the beach 3 times in a week! The water is so clear compared to Malaysian beaches and the beach is more cleaner. I love the skies in Perth. At night the stars shine brilliantly along with the moon. In the morning, the blue skies are either dotted with marshmallow like clouds or just an endless blanket of blue. I have yet to capture the magnificent sunsets. My initial plan of documenting my life in Perth through lenses did not work out because of the busyness. Maybe after class started I can do that.
Budgeting will be something I have to learn here. Food is pricey and so is transportation. Lucky I know some friends with cars. Can't imagine life without proper transportation.
Do I miss Malaysia? Sometimes. But I really do love Perth. I'm glad I came. Its gonna be a year of fun, studies, love, friendship, God and life!
