6 years later

So, it has been 6 years since my last post. What happened? Lots. Lots and lots more.

I suppose the main thing that happened was that I studied in university and became a full fledged dentist. I have the title of 'Dr' in front of my name now and I derive satisfaction from the succesful extraction of teeth and people saying thank you for it (I bet lots of people are feeling scared now).

There are many aspects about dentistry that I love and hate, but I suppose every job has its pros and cons right? Is there a perfect job out there? Maybe. Maybe it depends on where you work and who you work with, not just the type of work you do.

In the past few years, I got back into playing the drums too (yes you read that right). I used to play the marching drums and percussion in my high school band. After 5 years of complete abstinence, I got sucked back into drumming in university. Right now, I'm still taking lessons and trying to keep the drumming going. I don't need to be the greatest drummer alive, I play the drums purely because I enjoy playing it, and particularly if I can jam together with band mates. Drumming is therapeutic, kind of like meditation.

Me on the drums about 2 years ago

I have also travelled to quite a few places in the past few years. Recently  I went to Shanghai and Huangshan, Cameron highlands(most recent) and coming up is Japan! Maybe I should blog about my travels? Does a blog need a theme? Because I sure as hell need one. 

Or maybe, I can just be me, and blog about being a dentist, drumming, travelling, books, movies and thoughts? 

Decisions, decisions. Got to make lots of that when you finally become an adult.

To Be or not to Be

Well, the results are out. 4 flat(4 As). So what does this mean? Well to be honest, seems like it wasn't really a big thing for me after all. Since I don't feel any particular excitement or euphoria. Just relief. And right now, just feelings of being bored.

Just watched The Social Network with mum tonight. It's quite interesting and original too. The cast is great though the fast-talking is really hard to catch sometimes. I'm sure many people envy Mark for his success and his wealth(he is the youngest billionaire in the world after all) as we all do with celebrities, rich people, royals and movie stars at times. We don't just envy the wealth and fame of celebrities of course, but also their inexplicably(and allegedly) perfect lives and well, everything else. You know what I mean.

Even though I do believe in the concept of 惜福 or "being content with what you have", which is supposed to make you happy I guess, but thinking as such would definitely limit what you can do in life right? I mean if you are content with getting an "okay bread", how can you become a great baker? or if you are alright with not being able to travel overseas(even though it has been your dream for a very long time), will you push yourself to earn the money required for you to travel the world?

Okay, envy is classified as a sin but turning it into motivation could very well be a blessing for someone. So, I guess the smart thing to do would be to not envy and do nothing about it, but envy, observe and gain motivation to do better.

Try this anime: Yakitate Ja-pan! if you really want to see people getting motivated because of somebody else's success. It's a little bit crazy, but is really cool and funny in its own way.

Adios!

A Small Success

It has been quite a looooong time since my last post. A lot has happened in the past few months, but here I will start by doing some catching up.

Although I say a lot has happened, the bulk of the time was however, spent in much of a routine-like way as most human lives are spent I guess. Wake up, go to school/work, blah blah blah, get back home, read or watch tv, sleep, then repeat. This is how most of us live because, I am compelled to conclude, humans really are very habitual creatures. Force yourself to break a 10 or 20-year habit right away, and you will know what I mean (makes you feel uncomfortable right?). Of course, there are variants in our daily routines or rather, occasional events that make us alter our schedule as there was with me. However, for now I will only describe the basic routine that I went through as a student in a Malaysian matriculation program.

Wake up at 7a.m. when the alarm rings, and by no means earlier even if your roommate's KFC alarm keeps cockle-doodle-ing and the other roommate's cellphone makes a big annoyance of itself by ringing every 10 minutes or so. Do not get up to turn these off either. Make your way to the toilet with your toothbrush in hand and start brushing. If you find the water resources have been monopolized by the excessive bathing of the almost 200 people in the block, fear not, the tank water is probably not yet depleted. So get a pail if you are insistent on flushing the toilet. Probably around 7.20a.m. the intercom will start to spout songs praising Allah or some other related songs (beats me what they were talking about =.=).Get back to your room and snack on some biscuits. Go into the corridor outside to get some hot water from the kettle if you feel like drinking Milo or tea.

8a.m. is fast approaching so change into your formal wear and join the hundreds of people walking to attend class. Usually the first hour or two are lectures, so head for DK4. Walk up the stairs and sit beside the same person you sit to everyday because it feels weird sitting next to others. Next, start listening to the lecture while complaining to your friend about how boring it is or just start daydreaming. Another option is to complete your burdensome tutorials while feeling guilty about not paying attention( laugh if you like, I really did feel guilty..lol).

Lectures over, part ways with your lecture-friends and join your classmates(meaning going into a smaller class of about 20 students). Attend tutorials or complete experiments together. Cheer silently when it's 12p.m. because you get to eat lunch and meet up with close friends! Then go back for another round of tutorials/lectures at 2p.m. before you are freed from obligations at 5p.m. Relief!

Trudge back to your room and get a bath, then contemplate whether to finish some more homework or go for some exercise. If not up to it yet, then just get a little nap in first. When hungry, eat dinner and watch a movie or drama on your lappy. ( sorry to say that was the highlight of the day >.<) Lastly, just study the night away and go to sleep. If bored, go to friend's room and kacau kacau a bit, talk and complain( Yes, I complain a lot sometimes.. sorry fellow sufferers)

So, that is basically what I did for the past 11 months. Sounds boring? Oh it sure was. Yet, I did get something out of it in the end I hope. In spite of everything, there were definitely some good times spent there.  I did go out with friends numerous times too, which were awesome to say the least.

I am quite sure everyone was very happy to leave when the last paper was over on that last day. Why? Maybe because it felt too much like a never-ending boot camp for us? or maybe we just wanted to be free again? Well, there were many reasons I suppose. Thus, it felt like a big accomplishment for us, I think, that we were actually able to complete this program as we did. At least, it was one for me. Congrats everyone on our success!

Why Georgia by John Mayer

I am driving up 85 in the
kind of morning that lasts all afternoon
just stuck inside the gloom

Four more exits to my apartment but
I am tempted to keep the car in drive
and leave it all behind

Cause I wonder sometimes
about the outcome
of a still verdictless life

Am I living it right?
Am I living it right?
Am I living it right?
Why, why Georgia, why?

I rent a room and I fill the spaces with
wood in places to make it feel like home
but all I feel's alone
It might be a quarter life crisis
or just the stirring in my soul

Either way, I wonder sometimes
about the outcome
of a still verdictless life

Am I living it right?
Am I living it right?
Am I living it right?
Why, why Georgia, why?

So what, so I've got a smile on me
but it's hiding the quiet superstitions in my head
Don't believe me
Don't believe me
When I say I've got it down

Everybody is just a stranger but
that's the danger in going my own way
I guess it's the price I have to pay
still "Everything happens for a reason"
is no reason not to ask myself

If your're living it right
Are you living it right?
Are you living it right?
Why, tell me why
Why, why Georgia why?

The Lull Before the Storm

My family has never really been a very traditional one so we have never really celebrated the mid autumn festival before. So its been quite an awesome one really. Although the number of Chinese students here aren't that many but somehow it felt like a big event to me this year.

On the day, we ate mooncakes in the cafe and later adjourned, yes, to carrying lanterns and strolling around the whole college like it was ours! Everyone was taking pictures, and I've got to admit all the colorful lanterns were really beautiful. Besides that, about 50 to 60 of us also went to the nearby temple(佛堂) to celebrate on Saturday.The performances and "fashion shows" by the kids were great and us kmm students were oddly, very..how should we say it?eh, in the mood I suppose. So all in all, a meaningful Mooncake festival this year!

Talking about new experiences, I am proud to say that I have finally donated my blood for the first time! I was quit down that day but after donating my blood, my mood just... lifted^^ I suppose doing something for others once in a while really is good for you. Theory proven! So, more donating blood for me in the future..I hope XD

Truth be told, I'm swamped by all the studying and homework and revision that I have to do right now. ( That's why this post is sort of rushed.) All I see people doing now is study study study cause finals are just around the corner! And I quote our capable non-bumi advisor:" If you don't get 4.00 in the first sem, then you will never get 4.00." I know, I know. If you can't face it now, what are you going to do when you go to university? 

Putting my results aside, I think my new life is making me half crazy right now.( Or maybe I already was?) It's not just the pressure of THE 4.00 really, its.. everything. I wonder, is it possible to have a "quarter-life crisis" like what John Mayer sings in Why Georgia? (lovely song by the way) 

I know I'm getting closer and closer to the time when I simply have to decide what to study.  But luckily, I just thought up my main goal in life- to get a nice job and earn some money to be able to firstly, help save the world(don't laugh, com'on someone has to do it right?), second, travel the world and thirdly, make a movie(or movies?). Okay, I really am half crazy. Even so,  I am simply too tired to care now.

Wish me luck in PSPM(finals)! 

p.s. I dedicate the my next post to John Mayer's Why Georgia.

"Undepress" me

Been a tad bit depressed these few days. Maybe because.. I'm thinking of the inevitable? God I wish I didn't have to go back. But life has to go on right? I chose to go so I can't blame anyone for feeling miserable sometimes.

So, here I thought about some of the things that have made me lose the long face and I shall dedicate this post to them.

First off, MOVIES and DRAMAS

P.S. I Love you- Sad but nice

Julie and Julia- Very nice and funny too. Julia Child is inspiring! She made me feel better. Not to mention all the delicious food. 

 

The Korean Version of "Playful Kiss" 韩版恶作剧之吻 - Sure, I only watched four episodes but it made me feel tons better. My brother would call it a stupid show( no surprise there>.<) but hey, its entertaining and funny^^

Second, BOOKS

Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex- Not bad, but not as good as the previous ones.

Ok I succeeded in reading only one book this week. Again I'm wishing I could rot at home like the time after SPM. But no, I will not dwell on the past anymore! 

Geez, sorry everyone for the not-very-cheery me recently. I am such an idiot sometimes. I need to find a goal or a dream or whatever it is right now, or else everything seems pointless somehow. Wish me luck!

Block out the Worries for 24 hours

It's been quite a while since I've written. I guess I'm not used to the sharing-my-thoughts part of this, cause well, I'm not much of a chatty person myself.

A lot of things have happened in the past few months that reality just hasn't quite caught up to me yet. Though, I have to say, Malacca is one interesting place to visit! A big bunch of us Matric students went "outing"(outing is what we call being freed from the confines of KMM) during our first weekend back after a week and a half of our mid-sem break.

Me and my friends have been to the two biggest malls in Malacca- Mahkota Parade and Dataran Pahlawan, quite a number of times already, so this time me and some others decided to venture out of the air-conditioned shopping malls and brave the sweat for some taste of the real Malacca.

First of course, we went to the Porta de Santiago and St. Paul's roofless church for a few quick pictures. Then down to the Red Square where there were throngs of people walking around and lastly, to Jonker Street. I have been through all these tourist places once before with my parents, so it wasn't really that much of a discovery for me. It was interesting though, to watch people line up right on the road where cars, trishaws and motorcycles were driving on, just to eat in one of the Chicken Rice Ball shops at one end of Jonker Street. The things people do for "famous food". Well ok, I did eat my Chicken Rice Ball lunch, but we chose a big shop that didn't require any waiting on the streets at all. It was only so-so really. I say that because the first time, I ate at a small shop near Equitorial Hotel and it was amazing!

This time around, me and my friend went walking on the street beside Jonker Street(I don't know if it is part of Jonker Street though).There we saw the Cheng Hoon Teng Chinese temple, an Indian temple and a mosque. All three on one street just like the one in Penang. That day was the first time I ever walked right into a mosque, though we only stayed for like a minute cause time was running out and we had to go do some shopping too.

All in all, it was quite an enjoyable day. I loved not having to study and do homework for a whole day, or go to classes and worry about quizzes day in and day out. In fact, my friend-who has been in the same class with me since secondary school, went with me to a not-so-legal screening of Toy Story 3 in on of the lecture halls that night too. Boy, what an experience! The audience was so emotional over all the big, exciting moments and great escapades of Woody, Buzz and Co. that I was quite exhausted at the end of it all. The movie was indeed, not just entertaining but moving too. Thumbs up for Pixar and the guys who made Toy story such a good one to watch.

In the movie, Andy is all grown up and is going to leave for college soon. Everyone in the hall went 'wow' when we saw him for the first time. Time passes by so quick. We have all grown up. No longer little kids,no longer playing with the toys we used to love, no longer living at home. It was sad to watch Andy leave at the end of the show. Ah, life. What else are you holding in store for me?