Of Nasi Lemak, Wan Tan Mee & Pan Mee

The picture was taken before my family went back to Malaysia. Hey, why my eyes are closed? It's been one week since they went back. Orientation has passed and ended. Now, I am a member of AIESEC, S.A.L.T.S, MoMu, A.S.S and put my name down for futsal trials. Ok, the clubs I join are not as dodgy as they sound. For AIESEC, I quote, "AIESEC is the international platform for young people to discover and develop their full potential. Present in over 1,100 universities and with over 23,000 members, AIESEC offers an unparalleled leadership development experience. Join a global network of change agents that aims to make a positive impact on society.".

S.A.L.T.S is a sort of a community club and stands for Students Arising Learning To Serve. MoMu is a Malaysian Club for Malaysian students at the Uni of Melb. And A.S.S. is the Actuarial Students Societ. Apparently, for sports club, you have to cough up like a lot of money just to become a member. For example, to join the Table Tennis Club, membership fees are around 50 Aussie dollars. Wow, I can't imagine for futsal, how the price would be like.

Guess what, until now, not all my subjects are approved yet. This past week, especially Thursday and Friday, have been 'traumatizing' for me. Long story. Let's just say the Commerce Student Commerce is really inefficient and misleading. Oh yeah, even with my 17/20 for my SACE Spec. Maths, its not enough for me to get into Accelerated Maths. I had to sit for a test, and yes, I failed badly. Like duh, the test was on Fri, but I was only told on Thurs nite, and I didn't have any of my Maths books with me to study. So, obviously, I failed, and can't take Accelerated Maths.

So, on Tuesday (23 Feb), I went down to Bourke Street in the city to exchange my faulty printer. So, after swapping the printer, I wanted to catch a tram back to my room since I am carrying the bulky printer, but the tram service on was stopped because of some huge demonstration moving down Swanston Street. Instead, I had to walk 25 minutes back to my place, carrying the printer at the same time. Below are two pictures I took of the demo. The theme was 'Don't kill live music'. Wow, now I want a demo entitled 'Don't kill my arms' coz' my arms died that day after struggling with the printer all the way back.

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I really miss Malaysian food. Here, Malaysian food don’t feel quite the same, and it’s so expensive. Is there such a word as food-sick? I really crave for Malaysian food. Ah, I really miss Nasi Lemak, Wan Tan Mee, Pan Mee, Roti Canai, Curry Mee. And I have been here for less than a month. Some might wonder how I will survive the rest of the year.

Gosh, I am drooling over the pics!! I can't wait to go back to Malaysia, for the food!!

Bittersweet

My parents and my two siblings went back to PJ today. So here I am in Melbourne, alone without the physical presence of my family around. Yes, I admit I am scared. I am afraid of the unknown, afraid of not being able to settle in and make friends, afraid of not doing well, afraid of letting my parents down. I realized I am so lucky, to be able to receive my parents' backing, to be able to study in Melbourne, something they never had a chance to do so. I really appreciate my family. People say you will only miss those you love once they are not there. How true. It's not so much of the homesickness that is plaguing me, it's that empty and hollow feeling when my family is not here.

Yeah, I sound like someone wallowing in self-pity, but hey, the blog is my refuge sometimes. I feel that here, I can speak my mind.

I know I will get over my homesickness eventually. When I have things to do, I probably will not brood so much and just try to enjoy life here. Besides, now we have something we call the internet and phone. Family and friends are just an email/call/msn/skype away, which 'reduces' the distances between everyone. It's bittersweet here because I am excited to study at the University of Melbourne, but I am missing my family and home.

Anyway, if anyone is coming down to Melbourne, whether its for holiday or studies, just let me know. I can show you around the city, bring you to makan places etc.

Orientation starts this Tuesday. I hope by then my subjects for my first year are settled by then. Apparently the Commerce Student Centre system broke down. What the heck, of all times.

Sh!t, not only the food in Melbourne is expensive, so is the Internet here. There is no such thing as unlimited use of the internet here. The Aussie way of counting your internet bill is by how much stuff you download from the web. So, that's the end of my online gaming here, bye bye Sudden Attack, Left 4 Dead 2 ==

Down Under

Thanks to my mum who is working in MAS, she managed to secure business class tickets (at a scaled-down price of course) for me and my family to fly to Melbourne, Australia. So yeah, after days of packing and planning, I finally stepped into flight MH129 at KLIA and exited at Terminal 2, Melbourne Airport at 9pm local time.

On the Saturday before I left, there was a party at my house organized by the CG members. It was basically a send-off party for me and Jeremy, who was leaving for Macquerie University. It was nice, and I really appreciate everyone for their well wishes and gifts (: (I got a t-shirt and MP3 recorder!!) Unfortunately, I couldn’t see my E3 buddies before I flew off...what happen guys?? Really, like no response at all...you know what I mean...honestly, I am kinda disappointed. Oh yeah, Pou is actually going to Melbourne!! Lol, he is going to study at RMIT, and I only found out days before I left. What-lah Pou? Never tell anyone wan...

Surprisingly, the weather was quite cool in Melbourne even though it is still summer. Just yesterday, it rained!! Apparently, it hardly rains in Melbourne, especially during the summer. So it seems that we brought the rain from Malaysia (:

Another thing, Internet in Australia is pretty cacat. Yes, I was pretty surprised when I heard the rates and speed. Its quite expensive, and these no such thing as unlimited use, unless you are ready to cough up. So, in Malaysia, at least the Internet is cheap, if slow and keep dc-ing.

I saw my room at Unilodge @ Melbourne, and it is small. (Fact: I will be staying there for the next 6 months) But I thought its not too bad, the only downside is that I have to fork out additional money to use the washing machine and dryer. Furthermore, I am kinda scared of putting food in the common fridge. What if my stuff mysteriously disappears?

In short, I opened a bank account at the Commonwealth Bank, and got the $29 cap on 3 Mobile too. When I got some pictures, I will post it up.

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Yeah! Chelsea lost to Everton, downed by two goals by ex-Man Utd striker Louis Saha!! But Man Utd threw away the chance to go top of the EPL table by drawing at Aston Villa...ah well, at least Liverpool lost to Arsenal (: sorry Liverpool fans.

Transition Period

Yup, I will be going off to Melbourne soon to study. I will be at the University of Melbourne, doing Bachelor of Commerce, possibly majoring in actuarial studies. Yes, I am making a switch from science to business subjects. Risky, since I never studied stuff like microeconomics and financial maths before, but hey, if I graduate to become an actuary, it will be worth it.

So, Melbourne, new place, new life. This is the phase of my life where I have to be fully independent. Cooking for myself, working part-time, studying without the nagging presence of parents (whoops), these are the things I will face once I will be in Melbourne. You could say this is a transition coz' at home, pretty much everything is provided.

I suppose the packing is the hardest. There's a lot of stuff I need to bring, but sometimes I feel at loss at what exactly to bring. Clothes, toiletries, some cutlery, stationary, shoes, bed linen, laptop, and oh yeah, more clothes. Hmm, what else? And to make more difficult is the presence of parents who constantly badger me not only to pack, but to completely clean out my stuff in my room. Hey, the stuff I am leaving behind is not junk you know, its more of something sentimental to me.

On the 9 Feb, I got a Maxis scholarship interview at Menara Maxis (where esle?). Darn, this is one scholarship I have to get. Studying in Australia is dead expensive. My rent at Unilodge@Melbourne alone is AUD$255 per week and that does not include food!!

Alright, I will stop right here as I suddenly lost my mood for blogging >< (I have an unwelcome visitor). And oh yeah, I hope Arsenal beat Chelsea, for Man Utd's sake of course!!

About Driving and the Dutch

For the last few days, Malaysian road users have been giving me the 'experience' of a lifetime in driving. Banished to the road with only the car as company, I have to act as a chauffeur for my siblings and an office boy for my parents. Thus, it is inevitable that I will stumble upon drivers of various, how should I put it, attitudes.

One thing about taxi drivers, they are either going excruciatingly slow trying to catch the attention of potential suckers (Erm, I mean customers) while being totally unaware that they are slowly down traffic behind them, or they are happily ignoring the gasp of other motorists when they suddenly cut into your lane to try to reach their destination ASAP.

It is amazing how traffic jams can easily influence people's emotions' on the road. Sometimes, even though you have the right of way, other kiasu drivers will swerve into your lane without a second thought just because they can't wait for another 5 seconds. If you challenge them, all you get is mouthful of 'f**k you!' and a middle finger. Yes, it happened to me so many times that just this afternoon, I got so pissed and returned the van driver the gesture. Luckily, none of my siblings were there. Immediately after that, I was like 'Damn, this isn't like me..I shud control myself better..'.

At least they are still kind drivers out there who give way to you when you have been waiting at the intersection hoping to turn to the other side for ages. These are the drivers other people should learn from. It isn't that hard to give in once in a while right? After all, we can't just always think of ourselves.

Lol, this is how the Dutch test their people in driving?? I have to say, this is a difficult question.

On a different issue, I am really undecided on where to study. Should I go to ANU, which is located at the Putrajaya-like city of Canberra, or should I go to the University of Melbourne? Should I take actuarial studies or not? It is too tough for me? So many questions, but no answers..

Good luck Zyoung, I hope you will do well in Melbourne. I will definitely miss having you around.

Why Am I So Uptight?

I know promised myself that I will update my blog more regularly, but er, because of unforeseen circumstances, I find myself breaking my vow. What is this, my second post of the year? Zzzz...

Anyway, the last few days I have been feeling really uptight, and easily upset by whatever uncomfortable situation I am in. Seriously, I don't think I am usually like this. Even right now, I am feeling a little ill at ease. I am also easily irritated by some people. The thing is, I am not very sure what's causing this. Could it be the prospect of leaving home and studying aboard? Or is it the feeling of being burdened by the choices I am going to make?

Right now, even my own computer is against me. When I try to *ahem* load the game (yes, I play Sudden Attack), the computer just go blank and a blue screen with the word 'ERROR" strewed across it appear. The best part is that it only happens to me. I have tried it many times with the same result, whereas my bro successfully launched the game in his first attempt, much to my frustration!!

Admittedly, I am pretty worried about fitting-in when I leave for Australia to study. I have to be 100% independent, living on my own, but that's not what is worrying me the most. I am probably socially awkward. Maybe many people don't realize it, but sometimes I find socializing challeging. I generally avoid social activities, and I am uncomfortable in meeting new people. I mean, what the heck am I suppose to say?? So, I know going aboard means meeting new people and making new friends, and honestly, I am a little nervous about that. Don't get me wrong, I am excited about university, because it means new life and a fresh start.

Just yesterday, I checked online and I have received an offer from the University of Melbourne to do a Bachelor of Commerce in their Parkville campus. This is my first offer, and I will wait for the ANU offer before I decide. Man, I am pretty undecided over this. Anyway, am I the only E3 who is going to Aus to study? It seems that everyone else is staying is staying put in Malaysia.

Just Pure Randomness

As most of us are painfully aware, school started this week.

I feel kinda weird not doing anything. Just watching my siblings go off to their respective schools when usually I am the first to cabut, even going to Taylor's last year, is plain odd. I probably never really fully comprehend that this is the year I will leave home and study at uni. Time really flies. I admit, I am afraid of going to uni. First of all, I don't even know whether I want to study engineering or actuarial science. Since the day I applied, I have not decided yet.

In my ongoing effort to prepare myself for uni, I have decided to pick up cooking. Yes, as an avid fan of the noble activity of eating, I am sad to say I am a tad useless in whipping up dishes. Since December 2009, I have tried my hand in preparing simple dishes such as fried rice, fried noodles, chicken rice, vege soup etc. The basic skills in preparing the 'raw materials' such as cleaning prawns, chopping chicken, cutting garlic/ginger/onion etc also I have mastered in the last few weeks. What I lack now is the passion to cook. You definitely won't find me working as a chef in the future.

On a different matter, I am appalled to know that many of my friends didn't do so well in their pre-uni studies last year. Though I am of course disappointed for you guys, I suppose the end result reflects the true amount of work you put into your studies. To accomplish anything, genuine hard work and sacrifice (less TV, less Facebook, less socializing) are two elements needed. If you think you didn't do well, remember, change in your lifestyle is necessary.

Since I have no major commitments this month, this leaves me with a lot of time for personal reflection. What I like, which friends do I really treasure, what am I not good at, who am I not treating well etc.