Back Again

So I've been ridiculously lazy about updating this.

But with good reason! I went over to the dark side of life to be tormented by the most dreaded subject known to mankind....accounting!!

It still torments me, but well...it can spare me for a mere 5 minutes. :) I hope.

So many things have happened. So many things have crossed my mind and I have yet to find the time to write them all down.

Blogging happens to be one of my topics of study in communications, and as of the moment, I'm using this hiatus to im,prove my ideas, my writing style, even my blog format! And here's to hoping that I will eventually improve this as soon as I can.

In the mean time, I do actually apologise for not updating. But as there will be a holiday (mid-sems!) next week, I hope I'll be able to post up a lot more.

The first of September, and so they say - it is the first day of spring. Although I have yet to actually see the weather look ANYTHING ike spring. But I guess this kind of change takes time.

But for now - adieu dear readers. Accounting is pulling me back into it's deep, black abyss...

xx

Semester Two...Bring It.

So ends what may be called exceptionally long holidays. I took the bus to uni with my head held high, my eyes bright and back straight on Monday, the 20th of July. As the university loomed closer before my very eyes, my posture gradually shrunk away in a curve, my neck loosened and my head bowed. I walked out of the bus towards the university, dejected. Almost defeated.
The force was almost too much to bear with, and I shivered, even as I inched ever closer to the formidable buildings. Yet, as I got closer, relief - that wonderful sense of comfort grew with each step. For it was not the very institution that intimidated me you see, but the rain, the thunder and the gale force winds that attacked me as soon as I stepped off the bus.

UWA could not have picked a better day to begin semester 2.

The extract above is somewhat inaccurate, although for descriptive purposes, it looks much better that way. As luck would have it, I was pelted with rain not as I got to uni, but rather almost as soon as I stepped out of the house.

It's been three days since I've headed back to uni, and I can truthfully say that each day has been as torturous as the other. My pants have been drenched for three days, my shoes are no longer fully up to task and my umbrella has been getting quite a work out. I now keep it in my hand as a permanant accessory. Quite the latest thing. Everyone has one nowadays. Just can't live without it. ;)

Meanwhile, I'm glad to be back at uni.
In two lessons, I honestly believe I've learnt and understood more than I ever did in six months worth of lessons at Saints (sorry sir) so I have a weird and sudden sense of hope that accounting might not be a horrific as I once thought it would be. I just have to...keep studying it I suppose.
Statistics looks rather dodgy. There are two lecturers, one indian and one caucasian. The caucasian one seems to be alright. The indian one seems to be technologically illiterate and has a very funky accent. Ultimately, I think I prefer the caucasian.
Debating communications looks very difficult already. Fun, but challenging. Of course, it's only challenging since we have to use a computer. But I look forward to an entire semester with this unit, and already attempting to get my work placement in Singapore. ;)
Asian Modernities looks set to surprise us all once again. This is a pretty sleepy sort of unit, if not for the amazing lecturer who actually knows how to teach.

So bring on the days. I swear I'll get through all of them this time. :)

xx

Insanity Strikes

That would so be the story of my life right now.

It's hard to believe that I have another two weeks left of holidays before I have to go back and endure all the pain and stress and excitement of uni again.

It's a very depressing thought, I've grown very accustomed to sitting around, reading, playing my music and doing absolutely nothing.

Then there were the exam results. Such a major let down. I was okay with everything. Everything!
Except...the micro marks.
The one I studies for the hardest.
The one Commerce exam I thought I had a handle on.

I failed it.

And I'm not sure if I'm actually coping with it all that well. No test or exam has ever gotten the better of me.

Until now.

Unlike high school, you can't amend it with other marks. You can't just leave it and say 'well, I didn't need it anyway, since I have back ups'.

I don't have any back ups for the one subject that probably made my life hell through the first semester.

Don't get me wrong, I love uni and still do. It maintains my level of stress so that I have just enough to worry about to survive. But Microeconomics is the only thing that has taken so much energy out of me and given me the final let down at the end.

Not to mention, I'm genuinely afraid of the parental reactions. Seeing as my parents are actually paying my uni fees. I have no idea how I will reveal it as quickly and painlessly as possible. To me at least.

That's more or less my educational and mental hell right there.

Then there's the complete and utter boredom of the holidays.
I actually have no idea how anybody is able to deal with this...nothingness for days on ends.
I know it's good to have this break at times. But most days, waking up is just such a pain because I know that there's nothing waiting to face me for the coming day.

I think the lack of stress actually scares me. In a very weird way.

xx

Note to Self

STOP GAMBLING.

xD

That sounded bad.

Today was the 90 million Oz Lotto draw. It's never actually hit 90 million before, so everyone in all of Australia basically went berserk.
I should know. Working at the newsagency today was no piece of cake. In fact, I was tortured, slowly but surely. When I checked the summary for the day, I found that we'd sold over 2000 lottery tickets today. When people came up to the counter wanting to buy things like 'Monday Lotto', I would look confused. People coming up to buy only cards or stationary definitely got some kind of weird glance from me today. Purely because I wasn't expecting it.

Everybody was investing in today's draw.
Everybody was hoping to win even a bit of it.

Even I was investing in it.

I checked my tickets online just now.

Guess what...?

I didn't win.

Go ahead. Laugh.
What sucks more is this. My aunt from Malaysia also decided to invest in the lottery. I sincerily don't think she could resist the idea of winning 90 million Australian Dollars when she earned everything in Malaysian Ringgit. My parents also invested. And out of all of us - my aunt won AUD$20.45.

SHE'S NOT EVEN IN THE COUNTRY AT THE MOMENT!!!

But I SWEAR this is a sign from the Almighty above telling me to stop gambling.

xx

Star Light Star Bright

Two stars burned out this morning.

Okay, let me rephrase that. I watched Star Trek the other day.

Two of the brightest shining stars of Hollywood passed away on the 25th of June 2009, early morning on the 26th of June in Australia.

First of all, Michael Jackson. I probably don't even need to mention his name in all honesty. And yes, he is/was eccentric. But his songs kind of brought a weird sense of hope. And his song Black or White has stuck with me from the moment I heard it.
I heard it in the morning, and I was completely and utterly shocked. I'm definitely one of those people who believe that his time hasn't come yet.

Second of all, is the death of farrah Fawcet, one of the original Charlie's Angels. I never really knew who she was. That much is certain. But saw snippets of the video she made for cancer patients, and what she was trying to achieve, and I think my heart just bled for her a leeetle bit more than it did for Michael Jackson.

What really pisses me off is the fact that her death is barely being recognised.

After what she did. So her public career may not have been as bright as Michael Jackson's. But that doesn't mean that her death should be mentioned only AFTER Michael Jackson's. Nor does this mean that Michael Jackson deserves more coverage than Farrah Fawcet does.

Nonetheless. The world lost two stars. Let's hope there'll be more to brighten up the days again.

xx

Job Needed. Please Call Me.

No, I didn't mean that literally.

But I do need a job. A second job to be precise.
I went job hunting yesterday. I was planning on applying until I reached IGA which is just outside the Galleria. But that got kind of screwed up when I headed there and actually ran out of resumés to hand out. =/ And I printed out about 15.

Moral of the story - print out at least 30 the next time. ^^

So I'm planning on heading out to Perth City tomorrow to apply for some more jobs. Because goodness knows, I need it. Plus it'll hopefully keep me busy during my month long holidays.
It's funny how I've got to be perpetually busy, otherwise I'm never satisfied.

Generally speaking, I'm also applying for retail stores only. Mum said I should probably get a receptionist job. But I have absolutely no idea as to where to go for it. =/ Maybe to the dental clinic outside Morley. But goodness knows. It's very painful having to apply to shops where they either tell you they've just hired all the people they needed, or worse yet: 'apply online'.

Funny how all applications happen to be online. Not to mention how annoying they are.

One ice cream parlour manager told me he was sorry, and then proceeded to tell me how he had already employed 14 girls and since it was winter, he couldn't hire anymore. But good luck with my applications.
He was by far the nicest. Although I probably could have done without the story about his problems.

But yes, if anyone knows about people needing employees in Perth City or in Morley Galleria, please comment me. I do need the cash. ^^ And the holiday activities to keep me busy.

xx

Examination Merdeka

So ends the first of many exams to come.

Surprisingly enough, I wasn't actually overly stressed about it. During the TEE, I was on full-on hyper drive mode. Yet, when I got to uni exams, I more or less turned up with a 'meh' attitude and did my best.

First up - ECON 1101, bright and early, 9am on a Saturday morning.
I swear Microeconomics will be the bane of my existance. BUT - this was the exam which I had stressed over since the beginning of my time at university, so I walked in, and actually felt prepared!
Of course, all my micro information flew out of my head the minute I heard the words 'set down your pens', but I was more than alright with it.
Next came ENGL 1112. I practically ran out of this exam about 15 minutes early. I was amazed at how much I was able to write and how much I was actually able to remember. However - I reserve all judgement...UNTIL I get my results back. :) English is never a topic you can be too sure about unfortunately.
Then ECON 1111 attacked me and more or less abused me for approximately two hours. I sat down, did the multiple choice questions, and then stared in complete and utter horror at the first short answer questions. After forcing myself to go slowly and to think about it, I finally got something that looked a bit more like a correct answer. I have no idea what I did to it, but all I know is that I will be reporting it for harrassment...
Finally, ASIA 1101 rounded off the exam. I also all but ran out of that examination. it wasn't too bad. But it also wasn't a bang-on exam either. So I shall leave comments on this one for now.

Moral of the story - never leave understanding lectures till the last minute. It'll drive you crazy. And possibly insane.

But for now, I'm on holidays. So bring on cold bursts of wind, rain and temperatures, blissful emptiness, late morning in bed, and...a whole lot more working hours?
I wish.

xx

Tong Hua

The mandarin (and proper) name for the song is 'Tong Hua'. Translated into english, it's called 'Fairytale', and was written by Michael Wong, a Malaysian Chinese artist.
My brother gave me the song a while back. And being the banana (Chinese version of a coconut for those in Africa/America) that I am, I didn't actually understand the lyrics. ^^" Just thought that the song sounded nice.

But then *Chris did an english translation of the song a few weeks/months back? I have no idea.
Then the song made more sense.

Today I had a sudden, and very weird urge to youtube the video for the song.
My gosh. Biggest mistake ever.

I.am.ready.to.cry!

And I'm probably not going to sleep for a while now.
It's a lot better with the video. And yes, despite all my banana traits, the song actually takes on a meaning when you watch the video.

I've forgotten how long it has been
since I've never again...
listened to you telling your beloved fairytale
I've thought for a long time
I start to panic
have I done something wrong?

You said to me full of tears
Inside the fairytale are all lies
I can't possibly be your prince
Maybe you can ever understand
You said I love you ever after
The stars in my sky has lightened up

I'm willing to be
that angel you love inside the fairytale
Spread up my hands
become the wings to protect you
You must believe
believe that we can be like that in the fairytale
prosperity and happiness is the ending

You said to me full of tears
Inside the fairytale are all lies
I can't possibly be your prince
Maybe you can ever understand
You said I love you ever after
The stars in my sky has lightened up

I'm willing to be
that angel you love inside the fairytale
Spread up my hands
become the wings to protect you
You must believe
believe that we can be like that in the fairytale
prosperity and happiness is the ending

I want to be
that angel you love inside the fairytale
Spread up my hands
become the wings to protect you
You must believe
believe that we can be like that in the fairytale
prosperity and happiness is the ending

I will be
that angel you love inside the fairytale
Spread up my hands
become the wings to protect you
You must believe
believe that we can be like that in the fairytale
prosperity and happiness is the ending

Let's write our ending together

That's the lyrics of the song translated into english. It's probably a very crude translation, since I realise that sometimes meaning can be lost this way. And poetry is just sometimes better explained in mandarin. But it's the best I can give. I hope you enjoy it. I'm just going to go bawl my eyes out now...

xx

Freedom of the Mind

I just wrote my english exam today.
You know that feeling? How when you haven't written huge amounts in a long time, you somehow just 'forget' how to write?

I got that today. It was so ridiculous.

My hand ached for a good two hours. Then I had to run and was almost late for my maths exam. Which I'm pretty sure I bombed. But I shall reserve judgement and pray for the best. No exams has ever gotten the better of me...and I won't let it now!

So in the course of my wandering, I headed over to the TCKid website. It's been a while since I thoroughly explored it...and the new changes make it look amazing! Unfortunately my technological illiteracy means that I'll have to spend hours toggling all the links to figure out just how it works properly...
But I found this passage on one of the discussion topics:

If you consider where your sense of self has always been located—in the idea of roots, the idea of coming from a place, the idea of inhabiting a kind of language which you have in common and the kind of social convention within which you live—what happens to the migrants is that they lose all three. They lose the place. They lose the language and they lose the social conventions and they find themselves in a new place with a new language—and so they have to reinvent the sense of the self. This is, after all, the century of the migrant as well as the century of the Bomb; there have never been so many people who ended up elsewhere than where they began, whether by choice or by necessity. And so perhaps that’s the source from which this kind of reconstruction can begin. People who are no longer caught in the old definition of the self, but capable of making new ones.‘

Excerpted from Imaginary Homelands

After going through my english exam, the passage made sense. My mind is in analytical mode right now. I need to destress and allow my cells to rewire itself back to normal functioning mode.

xx

ABC Interview on Third Culture Kids

Brice from TCKid.com sent me an email about this. In fact, he all but sent me postcard about this interview with ABC, an Australian news network about our TCK status.
So I finally listened to it. Partly to spite the exams I so dearly hate. And partly because I was curious as to what could be said on radio about our issues.

http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2009/06/lms_20090604_0921.mp3

So that's the link to check out if any of you are interested. I know it's a little bit long. About 10 minutes worth of interview? But I listened to it, and once I started, I couldn't stop.
It was like going through the TCKid forums, but through sounds rather than through reading.

I was so excited, thinking that I would catch the interview on TV, but I guess that will have to wait.

Till then though, it's great that Brice is getting to this stage. If you ever come by Brice: two thumbs up!! But that's only because I have two thumbs. No strange externalities on my fingers.

For those of you who are too lazy to listen to the interview: Ruth van Reken (co-author of the book: Third Culture Kids), Brice Royer and Daniella Tudor were being interviewed by presenter Richard Aedy about what a TCK was and what the implications, both positive and negative were.
Ruth shared her research and emotions that one went through as a TCK, since she speaks from personal experience. Brice and Daniella both shared their personal stories, and how they dealt with the pain of not belonging.

I think it's the personal touch that helped to make the story so compelling.

Brice suffered from chronic pain in his hands for several years before realising that it was with-held emotion that caused all the pain. (listen to the interview for a full understanding of how bad it was. Allowing myself to imagine it gives me the shudders) Since then, he has retained full use of both his hands, for which I am eternally grateful for. Who else would run the TCKid website as well if not for Brice?! :)
I know Brice's story seems a bit extreme, but after listening to his story, I realised that there were many others who shared Brice's symptoms. Although I don't think I have experienced pain to the extent that Brice has, I also remember having experienced some form of pain in my hands. Clichéd as I know it sounds, it has gotten much better since I came to have a better understanding of what TCKs are and how I might be able to cope with it.

Daniella suffered from depression and extreme loneliness until she was introduced to the term 'TCK'. Since this is probably the stage at which most TCKs are, I think most of us can relate better to Daniella's story. I've been in Daniella's place before and in some ways I still am.

I guess it's a challenge I'll just have to overcome.

I don't exactly have much of a personal story to share. But even so - now is not my time. But I hope I've managed to help out any TCKs reading this as much as I can for now. Ruth, Brice and Daniella have helped us all so much through the TCK forum, so I hope it can help you too. :)

xx

Sleepless Nights

I can feel my eyes burning out the back of my head. Any minute now, you're going to see two large amd fizzled out masses falling out from the back.

And much as I wish I could blame partying and late nights out for this - that's not the reason.
I've been trying to get into WebCT for the past hour or so...and I am being constantly LOCKED OUT!!

Staring at the computer is going to make me blind.
But I'm going to have to risk it.

I've got a good reason for trying this hard though. My microeconomics lecturer didn't actually give me any mocks exams to do in preparation for this exam. But he did "very kindly" (I'm drowning this in sarcasm) leave some multiple choice questions for us to do online.
So. Much as I dislike having to rely on these questions, they're all I have available to test myself with. Problem with these questions is that I can't practice any graphs. Or force myself to put everything down in words. Especially since he's mentioned that I will need to blurt out everything I know to get any marks whatsoever.

But I guess today's need to test myself is going to the dogs...since I can't actually access my last bit of hope for Micro!!!

I wish he'd given us a test. At least then I'd have no excuse for blogging. :(

xx

In Malaysian News [I]

Teen model escapes 'abusive' Malaysian prince

By Presi Mandari – 5 hours ago

JAKARTA (AFP) — A teenage US-Indonesian model has returned to her family in Indonesia with tales of abuse, rape and torture at the hands of a Malaysian prince, after her dramatic escape with the help of Singapore police.

Manohara Odelia Pinot, 17, told reporters she was treated like a sex slave after her marriage to Tengku Temenggong Mohammad Fakhry, the prince of Malaysia's Kelantan state, last year.

Her mother, Daisy Fajarina, said she would press charges against the 31-year-old prince, and blamed the Malaysian and Indonesian governments for trying to cover up the alleged abuse.

"The things I've been afraid of were revealed to be true. Manohara has suffered physical abuse. She's got several razor cuts on her chest," Fajarina told AFP on Monday.

"No parent could be silent if their child was treated in such a barbaric way."

The Malaysian government had ignored her pleas for access to her daughter and had blocked her from entering the country, she said, while the Indonesian embassy had said that Manohara was fine with her new husband.

But the young woman -- a well-known socialite in Jakarta -- said her life at the royal palace involved a "daily routine" of rape, abuse, torture and occasional drug injections that made her vomit blood.

She said she was usually held under guard in her bedroom at the palace and was injected with tranquilisers whenever she complained.

"I am still traumatised by all that happened and it has left an impact on me," she told reporters in Jakarta on Sunday, after escaping the royal family during a trip to Singapore over the weekend.

"Sexual abuse and sexual harassment were like a daily routine for me, and he did that every time I did not want to have sexual intercourse," she was quoted as saying in The Jakarta Globe.

"I could never think a normal man could do such things," she said, adding: "Some parts of my body were cut by a razor."

The teenager whose fairy-tale wedding to a prince captured the imagination of Indonesia said she would be tortured if she did not appear to be happy when she attended social functions with Fakhry.

"Every time I went for events they forced me to smile and would torture me if I did not do what they said," she told the press conference.

She said she secretly called Singaporean police and pleaded for help after the royal family took her to the city state when they accompanied Fakhry's father, Sultan Ismail Petra Shah II, for medical treatment.

"The police told Fakhry that he would be held in jail if he did not let me go. No one could force me against my will in Singapore and I knew I had a chance to escape," she said.

The model once voted as being among Indonesia's "100 Precious Women" said she escaped her guards by pushing the Singapore hotel elevator's emergency button.

They were reluctant to chase her because they knew the scene would be captured on security cameras.

She blasted the Indonesian embassy in Malaysia, saying: "They made it worse by telling lies, saying that I was fine while I was suffering in Kelantan."

A spokesman for the Indonesian foreign ministry insisted the embassy had done everything it could to help Manohara and said the government would assist her if she wanted to file charges against her husband.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the government would not investigate the claims.

"I think this is more of a personal matter. To date we have not been dragged into it, so we want to leave it as it is," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia's royal rulers used to enjoy immunity from criminal and civil charges but the privilege was removed in 1993.

There has been no comment from the Kelantan royal family.

Manohara's lawyer, Yuri Darmas, said she would have a medical examination to back up her allegations of abuse.

"We need one to two days to gather evidence before we file a lawsuit to the Malaysian police," he said, adding that he intended to pursue both criminal and civil lawsuits against the prince.

Manohara has already filed for divorce, her mother said.

Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Not to post this up would be a crime. To keep silent while this kind of torture occurs on a daily basis. Mentally and morally, it would be a crime.
It's sad how in this day and age, this kind of thing can happen.

This is one that occured under a pretty public eye. But imagine the amount of abuse that goes on for other women? The women who keep silent while their husbands or their boyfriends beat them everyday. Or sexually abuse them. Doesn't matter. It's all wrong.

The refusal of the Malaysian government to intervene just simply sends a message to all of us saying that they will condone such stupid and offensive behaviour. More than anything, it says that the rulers are above the law and whatever they want to do is condoned.

Looks like some things in Malaysia don't change. In which case, neither will my opinion of the government in Malaysia. My faith in Malaysian politics decreases with each passing day, and this just caused the biggest drop.
The country I was born in. The country I should love and try to protect.

Marred by the idiots who run it.

Screw politics. Screw you UMNO. Screw you.

xx

A Missing Piece

It's kind of strange how I'll always miss home.

Home.

What an obscure word. I've never really had a 'home' per se. But somehow 'Malaysia' and 'home' have come mean the same thing. To resemble similar connotations.

Why?

I haven't been 'home' for so many years. Holidays barely count. I can't speak the language(s) and if I were to ever go back, I know several foreigners who could and actually do fit into Malaysian society better than I ever could if I tried.

So why does the name 'Malaysia' still ring a bell for me, everytime I hear it?

I can look at a Tourism Malaysia advert with orang utans on it advertising Borneo and still feel sad. I've never been anywhere near Borneo, and I don't even like orang utans!

Listening to my friends talk about 'going home' always gives me a heart rending pang. I've never liked it, but I endure it all the same. One friend told me he was going back 'home' to Singapore during the uni holidays and it hit, just as hard and painful as it always did back then.

Everytime I go home, I feel a sense of relief, yet a sense of restriction. I want so much to be there more than anything else. But I could never live there permanantly. Like I know I could never live like that.

I watch the wandering locals as they shop to their hearts content and bargain at the market. And then every morning, watch them head off to their dreary '9 to 5' jobs without any reassurance of 'after hours pay'. Not there is really such a thing as a '9 to 5' job in Malaysia. Most jobs tend to be 12 hours a day or longer.
I can think of the fruits I miss. Jackfruits, papayas, mangoes, korean pears, cikus...all the very best in one country. And then my mind wanders to the enduring humidity and the unbearable period before a storm breaks over the crowded metropolitan KL.

It's like I know of something better. No matter where I am. I want the best of both worlds. Or several for that matter. A whole new world. Created just right, fitting my every need and want.

But it's not going to happen. There's no such thing as a perfect world. Only close to perfect. You can only try to be satisfied with what you have. Because what's the point in coveting what you don't have?
The grass is always greener on the other side. But your grass may just be greener than somebody else's.
Home is where you hang your hat. But my hat needs to be constantly moved.
I've always thought that the reason I could never stay in one place is because I needed to fulfill every aspect of my life. To get my share of something that I knew was better, even if it was on the other side of the world.

So is this the way it's going to be? I'll travel my whole life searching for the missing piece?
I've been asked if my global-nomad status will ever come to an end. Whether I'll ever be satisfied with staying in the one place. One guy I met even asked if I managed to stay in one place long enough to make any friends. My answer to that was to remain silent and to finally say that I was never really sure.

In which case, I can only hope that my perfect jigsaw can be found within this world. Or that I can find something better to fit the missing piece.

xx

The Fear

I just got jabbed today.

The Australian government is giving out a set of 'free' injections that aim to prevent cervical cancer in women. The injection is known as Gardasil.


Fortunately or unfortunately, I managed to put it off for quite a while. Until this week when my mum asked if I wanted to get it (even though I'd asked her 6 months ago if I should go get it...she scoffed at me that time) and decided that I should go get the jab before it stopped being free and I would have to fork out AUD$200 just to get poked in the arm. Today just had to be the day.

My face looked something like this as the doctor jabbed me:

(>_<)

I. Hate. Needles.

Especially if I don't have anythng to numb it. She told me what the purpose of the shot was, and then told me about any after effects that might occur.
She said the worst was that I would have a sore arm.

That didn't help.

She poked me with the cylinder first, but that didn't exactly help me to deal with it. It just made me get even more nervous.

So that's when I scrunched my eyes up into a million tiny wrinkles and grabbed onto the arm of the chair, hanging on for dear life and squeezing any life it had out of it.
Rest assured, the chair is very much dead. But I've walked away from it alive - a survivor with a very sensitive arm.

Let's just say if you touch it now, my other, much stronger arm will put you in a headlock and attempt to strangle you.

Mishy <3>

Opinion and Controversy

Because, you know what? Everyone is entitled to their own. And just because it doesn't match up with yours, doesn't mean that it's wrong.

Carrie Prejean.
I salute you.

Not because she's beautiful and can wear a string bikini better than most women can.
Not because she was dazzling and charismatic enough to get to the position of Ms. California.
Mind you, I didn't even know Ms USA was on until all the fuss and noise came on the news.

It was because she spoke her mind. For sticking to her morals. For refusing to follow whatever was supposed to be politically correct.
Even though she knew it would offend people. Even though she knew it was controversial.



So I'm pretty sure that everyone knows the story of Carrie Prejean - Ms. California.
Perez Hilton asks her if she believes that every state should follow Vermont and legalise same sex marriage. Her exact words:

'Well, I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offence to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be - between a man and a woman. Thank you very much.'

Following that, Perez Hilton calls her a 'dumb b***h' on his blog.

She could've said what Perez Hilton wanted her to say. She could've gone with the flow. But she voiced her belief out loud. She stayed true to herself. So UP YOURS Perez Hilton. Don't put this all on your gay status and call her biased and backward. No one cares if you're gay. You asked her a question, and she answered it as best as she could. Just because you didn't like it doesn't mean she should immediately be labelled as a homophobe.

She's entitled to her opinion and no one can take that away from her. Even though she didn't win the title of Ms USA, I still think the fact that she was brave enough to say what she thought was more commendable. The Daily Mail reports that she believed that God was testing her on stage by allowing Perez Hilton to ask her that question. Test or no test - what would YOU have done? She's gone through months of rigorous testing and modelling, and pampering, only to be at the final step to gaining the title of Ms USA. To throw it all away simply because you wouldn't lie.

Now THAT is beauty.

So Perez Hilton can go crown anyone else he wants. The person who kisses his ass the most and tells him they love gay people like a good American citizen should. But Carrie Prejean certainly was the 'dumb b***h'. She was a prize winner of a different kind. And she didn't need Ms USA to be one.

To be honest, I support her view. I honestly believe that marriage was meant to be between a man and a woman. Although if I am not against gay people either. After all - they are just that. People. I have gay friends and bisexual friends. But it doesn't mean that I have to join them or insist on their behalf that they all get married and have one big happy family. If it so happens that gay marriage is in fact legalised in whatever country I live in, then so be it. Just don't expect me to fully understand the celebrations.

There's been news that people even want to take away her Ms California title. For goodness sake, she won it fair and square. She should keep it!
It was a difficult situation, and just because she didn't follow the other mindless sheep who would have given the politcally correct answer and said 'yes' to such a question doesn't mean she should be stripped of everything else.

She's given the rest of the world so much hope that we're not all turning into mindless politically correct drones.

I've said it way too often, but again - well done Ms California. You deserve it.

Mishy <3

No.

No. No. NO. NO?!?!

HOW did Perth ever make it to such a vote??
Can the added benefits of Daylight Savings not be seen?
Such as the fact that I won’t have to walk home in the dark when summer time comes around?? Or the fact that I will be able to wake up at 6am instead of the insane, ungodly hour of 5am when the sun will rise if Daylight Savings is not put into place??

What is WRONG with these people???

For the past five years, Western Australia has been undergoing a ‘Daylight Savings Trial’ where the clocks would be turned forward an hour every summer. Until that point in time, WA was the only state backward enough not to see the benefits of daylight savings.

A referendum (or a vote concerning the constitution/nation’s state of affairs) was put to the people on the 16th of May 2009.

And after five years of enjoying more sunlight and waking up at reasonable hours, THIS is the result we get??

The ‘no’ vote was tipped to win even before the referendum votes were counted. And it was close. Very close. Although I think the votes are still being counted, results currently stand at 45.3% 'Yes' votes and 54.7% 'No' votes. According to this website: http://www.waec.wa.gov.au/elections/live.php, the count has progressed by 82.89%.

I just want to say ‘thank you’ to those who voted yes. And despite knowing that it will be another friggin twenty years before another referendum concerning this comes up, at least I know you’ll probably vote ‘yes’ again.

There appeared to be a trend in the voters. Those who were younger than 25 generally wanted Daylight Savings to come in permanently. All the older people and the farmers wanted to continue going about their daily lives waking up at 5am. Just because it was too “troublesome to change the clocks every summer”.

%#*$@!*&#&

After finding out the result I locked myself in my room and plotted about a million ways to get myself out of the state as soon as possible. However, due to university requirement, I won’t be going anywhere permanently for a while.
Thankfully I will be out in another 4 years. I don’t think I can live with waking up at 5am every summer all that long. I already forsee a very tough 4 years ahead of me. Guess I should try going for holidays every summer then…

Mishy <3

The Electronic Project From Hell

One of the highlights and most stressful times I've ever had this year.

Under my Communications degree, I had to take ENGL1112 which is a Screen Texts and Print Texts unit, compulsory during first semester in my first year.
I had essays, readings, and never ending books to read. Which was great, since it's generally what I enjoy doing.

Then they threw us:

The Electronic Project from Hell.

That's the real name.

Formally, however, it's known as:

The iPod Project.

What we basically had to do was to use one of our texts: Patchwork Girl or Donnie Darko (I used this one), find a theme that ran through one of those texts and then do our own hypertext explaining our opinions and thoughts about it.

A hypertext is basically something that conveys a message electronically. It's like trying to write an essay using powerpoint. Only you've got to use words (if necessary), pictures, songs, audio, anything that conveys your meaning as creatively as is possible. An essay in pictures and audio.

I guess the pictures you use really do have to say a thousand words.

I can only say thank GOD that referencing isn't necessary. Otherwise I'd have a lot of trouble finding the artists who took the photos that I'd pinched off the internet. And the people who said/wrote the quotes I used. I even stuck in something that looked like poetry just so it would look like I'd done some work. It might be construed that way, but I never know since it didn't even rhyme. Ah well, poetic licence and all that.

My biggest problem though was having to do all the html referencing. I didn't even use bright colours or fancy fonts. It was just the absolute basics - having to link one slide to another, and making sure the video actually showed up when the link was pressed (which it didn't, the first time I tried. I eventually figured out that the video had to be in the iPod hard drive and not just iTunes before it would play up)
I feel rather bitter about this though. Why? Because my lecturer can't even switch on the computer without help, and she wants us to do...a hypertext project on an iPod??

Initally, we were all taught how to do the linking on an apple mac computer. Which I hated. Have I ever mentioned how much I dislike the mac? I have never used anything so complicated and annoying in my entire life. Although it doesn't help that my PC doesn't have the most recent Quicktime Player for me to format and edit video clips.
Thankfully, one student who shared my thoughts was generous and kind enough (I sincerely hope he knows it's him if he ever reads this) to post up instructions on how to do the entire project on PC. Which I gratefully followed. Step-by-step instructions really are a bonus for someone who left everything to the last minute and didn't even realise to what extent the full potential of an iPod was.

This task was set almost a month ago. But I finished it tonight, and finally, I can hand it in tomorrow morning before the 4pm deadline hits and all chaos in the Arts Building at UWA ensues.

To be honest - I had fun on this project. It was the canvas I never had. The blank space on which I could do absolutely anything I wanted. All that space, so much to do, so much to say. I believe I've definitely gone over the quota necessary - I only needed to create 10 slides and I think I have at least 15. The only think I hated about it was the html referencing I needed to do, just to get one stupid point across. But, well, that's art.

Thus ends the Electronic Project from Hell. :)

Mishy <3>

Pressure

I know I said I wouldn't start blogging during this month.

Unfortunately, according to the rules of my OCD nature, it is virtually impossible for me to leave my blogging quota for this month at 'one', and for this reason, I'll need to at least make up the number of posts to three. If I remember to make it up to the number three.

Nonetheless. I have TWO essays to hand in this week. One of which (the microeconomics one) I've already handed in. Hence the reason I feel safe enough to be typing this. The other (Asian studies) is due in on Friday.

And then I have an ipod project due in on Monday.

Ipod project?

Yes, ipod project. I have to give my opinion on a certain theme that runs through one of the movies I've been doing in my unit in as creative a way as possible. This means that I will more or less make my opnion look like a real live television show. Or a very complicated slideshow.
Whichever works. Either way, the idea of an ipod project is making me bushed.

.pressure pressure pressure pressure.

Funny how everything just ends up being due in the month before exams.

I got my exam timetable. I can only say I wish Microeconomics was one of the last exams rather than the absolute first. Of all the days I have to do the exam, it has to be a Saturday. Morning.

Life really should not get any worse. I've been nice enough to it as it is.

Mishy <3

Entrapment

So I got my results back for my Microeconomics mid-semester exam.
The one I've been killing myself over for almost a month now.

And...I didn't like what I saw.

Needless to say, after this post, I am grounding myself until mid-June. When all my projects and my units officially finish.

And while this is probably of no great concern to anyone - that's just my explanation for my absence of posts till then.

Thanks for understanding. :)

Mishy <3

Zimbabwe Cartoons

After having gone through some of the Madam and Eve cartoons a few days before, my severe interest in South African politics came right back. And I found some really great ones on Zimbabwe which I can't help but laugh about. Especially the one on Robert Mugabe. I don't like Robert Mugabe. But making fun of him through these comics is just wayyy too entertaining!
Have a read and laugh. I hope they entertain you as much as they have entertained me. :) I really do miss South African comics and comedians. (Leon Schuster!)






Mishy <3

Photoshop

I can use it!

I got told by the Multicultural Week group that I had to get photoshop and learn to use it. Sharp sharp. And while I am computer literate, I am no Bill Gates. Which ultimately meant this would be a challenge times 2 to learn how to use it.
But then I found out I would need to learn how to use photoshop for my Communications degree anyway, so it made sense for me to get a head start now.

And okay, so I encountered some problems. But eventually, I got there! Not to mention, I've been fiddling around with like a bunch of tools while I had time.

And yeah, call me crazy, but I'm pretty impressed with what I've done so far. :)

So here's some of the pictures I ended up playing around with for the MCW Society's Proposal.




Mishy <3

South African Elections 2oo9

So South Africa had their elections on Wednesday, the 22nd of April.

It sounds pretty random, but it had some special significance for me since many of my own friends voted in that election. Hoping for change. Thinking they could make a difference.

Another reason why it held such significance for me is the fact that Jacob Zuma would be running for president under the ANC party. And...you guessed right. I don't like Jacob Zuma. In fact, I detest the man.

It's a very long story. But living there for two years has given me enough reason to dislike the man forever more, and to be severely horrified at the thought that this man could be running the one country I've been able to call home.

As far as I can tell, the election results aren't out yet. I am however almost certain that Jacob Zuma will win this election. How much by is a different matter. Since the ANC would need two thirds of the vote in order to change the constitution. I do not want Jacob Zuma to achieve that two thirds. I don't even want him to achieve half the vote! But I guess South Africa must speak for itself.

*UPDATE*

Zuma won the elections.

-_-"

As I probably should have known would happen. But on the plus side - he didn't win the two thirds majority. And I sincerely hope this spells out future trouble for the ANC.
Or at least warns the ANC to buck up and spend tax payers money on helping the poor. Unlike past attempts to change the names of the roads and the airport. I mean, what was wrong with Johannesburg International Airport? Why O.R. Tambo Airport? And nobody calls Pretoria, 'Tshwane', it's still Pretoria to us!
Funnily enough, when I read the news report in The Star (Malaysian version) people were arguing about which one of his two wives would end up being known as the First Lady.

Could we get anymore ridiculous??

Mishy <3

Inspiration

It's gone. Every bit of it. Almost anyway.

Which is why I more or less went on an impromptu hiatus.

I can't think of anything to write.

If you look through my blog archives, there's quite a few posts which I have yet to post. But I can't. Purely because they don't look ready for publication. I start them off. But the first line looks wrong. Or I could add something in the 5th line, but what was it again??


I can't believe I'm wracking my brains on what to write on my blog. It simply never happens!

I need a muse. Or a new theme. Or something that will get the rusty old cogs in this brain of mine ticking away.


It's funny how I thought a change of location would help the cogs to unwind. But I guess the change of location became too familiar to be called 'inspiration' anymore.
And what of a new educational institute? All it's done is made my posts boring, repetitive and mundane.
Write about my friends? But I can't keep writing about them. They know I appreciate them already.
Or what of current events? Global recessions and war and terror?

I recently read the blog of a lady who lived in Perth (of all places...) and somehow, she made her life sound so...adventurous? I guess it doesn't help that she's got her own income and can jetset to Singapore whenever. But still.

I need inspiration. A muse. Something that can get my imagination worked up all over again. The way I see it, all the change has done is to make me dull and mundane. Something which shouldn't be happening.

Oh how the mind boggles!

Mishy <3

A Long Absence

Apologies are in order for my almost inexcusible absence.

As we all know, university was going great until we [meaning I] realised that assignments had to be handed in and done and dusted and that there wouldn't be much leisurely time until I handed it all in.

So this week alone, I did an Asian Studies presentation, finished an English essay and immediately after, ran to the lecture room to do a Maths test. I was almost late, but I think I did pretty well! But I'll leave my comments on this test till AFTER I get my marks...

I'm currently on 'study leave' which means I should be studying...but I doubt that's going to happen anytime soon. Since I somehow managed to extend my break a bit longer than I'd like, since it's causing me no end of trouble *shifty eyes*. But hopefully I'll get through it.

It was the 10th of April when I started typing this post up. On Ntombi's birthday! So happy birthday love, should you ever deign to read this.

Meanwhile - it's Easter! Finally headed to church after weeks and months. -_-" God is most likely looking at me and wondering how I turned out to be such a heretic. But I know He's there for me, so I try my best.
Riverview Church is where I went, and I actually like the church. I thought it was going to be another caucasian monopolised gathering, but it turned out to have a very even mix of many nationalities. Which is all good and great, except that we have to drive 20 minutes to get there, but pfffft, who cares! I like it! Hopefully this means we've finally found a church.

Mishy <3

Behind the Wheel

So. I sat behind the wheel of the car for the first time in years.

And this time, I didn’t just sit there dangling my legs, pretending I was a Formula One Racer.
I didn’t sit there thinking I was James Bond and would flip the car over the edge of a cliff and somehow miraculously survive.
And I certainly wasn’t there trying to rev up the car for my dad like I used to do.

Nope. It was more serious than that.

Trembling, staring dead ahead whilst desperately trying to watch my rear-view mirror, I sat there, ready for my first driving lesson.

AndIpanickedlikeI’veneverpanickedbefore!

So dad was trying to teach me how to configure my mirrors, reach the pedals, which gears I had to push and pull, etc.

That was easy.

Then he told me to drive.

I wasn’t even sure if the car would follow my lead. But surprisingly enough, it did. After the initial false starts and near misses of the curb.

Mind you, I was doing all this in an abandoned car park. And I was already afraid.

I hope my driving improves significantly and that I will not be banging into things out of sheer fear. [rhyming bonanza...]

Mishy <3

The Day of Reckoning

I never actually thought a day like this would ever come.

My parents had decided that now I was 18 and technically should learn to survive by myself, I should get a Medicare Card. Just in case I decided that crashing a car sounded like a good idea. Or that drugs would be the highlight of my life.
It’s a good idea though. Medicare provides a lot of assistance and a 0.01% chance of getting you into a hospital if you’re in an emergency.

Knowing the health system in Perth.

However, I also knew full well that because this was a government initiative, they would scrutinise my entire life and comparatively give me peanuts in return.

Although I didn’t quite realise how detailed Medicare wanted my life story to be as well!

View Full Album

This, to me, is a pretty hefty price to pay for medical peanuts. Imagine the shock and horror on my face when I saw exactly what it was they wanted from me. I must’ve gone through at least four passports during my entire life. There was (and is) absolutely no way for me to remember the exact dates of when I left and entered each country, especially in my earlier years. It was quite a struggle for me to remember all the years we moved in, and to ensure that I got the spelling for the Phillipines ‘Philippines’ correct. [you’d be surprised how many times I’ve gotten it wrong] University assignments, move aside. I’ve found something better to challenge me.
And to add salt to the wound, I needed to add an extra piece of paper [not photographed here] because they hadn’t given me enough spaces to fill in all the places I’d lived in before.

This is quite an upsetting discovery.

Mishy <3

A Twitter Away

No, I don’t actually own an account from this much publicised networking website.

Or should I refer to it as a ‘stalker site’?

Twitter [for anyone living in the jungle, or stranded on a deserted island, or who has simply been left out of the loop] is a site where a person can update their ‘status’ by sending a text message to their site, and it will update itself automatically. Then whoever happens to be looking at your profile page at that moment will know exactly what you’re up to, where and why.
It is amazing that anyone would want to publicise what they were doing at any minute of the day from wherever they are.

Twitter would be perfect for the busy, headline hitting celebrity. Begin the day by proclaiming to the world that they are ‘Heading into the studio/film set’.
Later on in the day, they could hail Gaston, their hired French cook as the ‘most amazing chef in the world’.
Then give it that nice finish by letting the world know that they are well and truly on the way to ‘Producing the next biggest blockbuster/hit, by the grace of [insert name of god/goddess here]’.
Ironic, as to why these celebrities would want more publicity, considering the amount they complain about the already severe invasion of their privacy.
Nonetheless, celebrities and even politicians have a reason for the use of Twitter, if nothing else, then simply to build up their fan base.

But think about it. How many ordinary people, going about their daily lives, actually have something worthwhile to publish?

Picture this. Enter Mr/Miss/Mrs Ordinary. He/She would have a nine-to-five job. Most likely have ridiculous pay. And not very interesting work to do.
So presuming, that like most of the young generation today, Joe Sloe a 25 year old shmuck decides to procure a Twitter account for himself. What would he publish?

These are just some of the things one can imagine:
“Got out of bed. I hate 6am starts.”
“Heading to work.”
“Tomato and cheese sandwich for lunch. Not bad.”
“Need the bathroom real bad. Blame that T&C mush. Back soon.” [Like anyone would want to know this!] “10 minutes till work ends. W00t!!”
“Train is late. What a bore.”
“Cracked open a Guinness. Best in the world.”

Not very hard hitting headlines that make a person’s life.

So really, what use would Twitter have in Joe Sloe’s life? And what about all the Mr/Miss/Mrs Ordinary’s of the world? We have no fan bases to build. Nor do we lead amazing lifestyles that we must immediately let the world know about. If it were that amazing, the networks would report it for us.

Twitter is nothing more than a site that allows all of us to stalk one another, in a more intimate, effective way than Facebook apparently allows us to. It’s quite a detriment to person’s dignity when one realises that everyone within a 100 mile radius is being constantly updated on what updater is currrently doing or thinking of, every minute of the day!

So really, what IS the point of Twitter??

Mishy <3

Attack of the UWA Mascot

This got sent halfway through my second lecture today, and I found it rather hilarious when I read it:

oh my gosh i nearly died! went 2matilda bay n this gigantic (ok mayb nt bt it ws big) black swan bird thing tried 2eat my chips n ws followin me then it swam away. i'm gonna write a book followin my near bird-induced death called 'wen swans attack-by a survivor' k i'm done

*hee hee*

I reckon I may have passed out from lack of air directly after that. Not because it was such an exciting episode, but just because of the lack of punctuation and endless translations from sms english to normal english being done in my head.

I will now do a sequel to the book and call it ‘When Breathlessness Attacks – attempting to master the SMS’.

For non-UWA students: UWA is situated on a piece of land that has these massive black swans roaming around the campus, along with ducks and the one random peacock and the three peahens. The black swan, in fact, features on the emblem of UWA.

Matilda Bay is one of the cleanest bodies of water I’ve ever seen [I come from Malaysia – expect nothing less] and is a really great place to just sit and relax and study is you really need a quiet moment. Because of this, people like to go sit there and eat. Hence it attracts all kinds of crazy birds who are just about as well fed as the pigeons at St Stithians College.

So *Monzi getting attacked by one of these swans was probably no big surprise. HIs over dramatisation of her encounter with one of these increasingly violent err…highly ferocious animals however, is. ;D

On a less dramatic note – HAPPY BIRTHDAY TEE DAWG!

Mishy <3

* UPDATE* - 25 March 2009
I was sitting outside Matilda Bay [without food] and a dolphin leapt out of the water. I only regret not doing my usual happy snaps at that time, because the picnic-ers would've looked at me really weirdly. But it is officially my favourite haunt in all of Perth. :P Need to find me? Most likely in class, on the bus or sitting at Matilda Bay...just watching. =)

New Discoveries

I have news. And it is amazing.

I finally, FINALLY have my laptop, right here with me now.

And in doing so, I’ve discovered this nifty little software called ‘Windows Live Writer’ where I can simply type my blog posts from my computer desktop and I won’t even have to log onto my page anymore. Or well, I will, but I won't be doing it as often as I normally do. Hence, this will allow me to stop having to go to my blog page first and lying to all my readers whenever they see my Traffic Jam meter. :D

So no, guys, I do not in fact have that many readers from Perth. I’m sorry for having misled you all this time, but it for the good of the blog.

I've just realised how jakun I sounded typing that out. Software engineers and computer fanatics everywhere must be shaking their heads at me, even as I type.

Meanwhile, I’m currently going through all the programmes that are on my little miracle and praising the high heavens that after all the panic the stupid company gave us when they informed us of a late delivery, it finally came earlier than the expected date. =)

I’m still looking for a laptop sleeve/glove for it though, as well as hopefully a skin so that the rather ultra shiny surface of the laptop won’t get scratched. And come to think of it, it is pretty shiny compared to other laptops. Or maybe I’m just comparing it to the Lenovo Thinkpad. Which is a rather dull, heavy ass laptop mind you.

I’ve just realised I haven’t mentioned what it is – it’s a Dell 1310. I actually really wanted the Studio 15 laptop (*sigh*)and was pretty persistent about it despite Dad trying to hammer in the fact that I would have to carry it with me.
Then I did some research and had a good think about it. And I realised that carrying 2kgs worth of electronic device for 8 hours around a campus about as big as KL city itself wasn’t exactly the smartest thing to do.
So in spite of the overbearing weight of the Studio 15, I ended up chosing the somewhat lighter Inspiron 1310. I have some regrets about choosing this one because it's not the one I had my heart and mind stubbornly set on. But I think that'll be the only regret I have because I think I still want my spine upright, and in it's usual curved S-shape by the time I hit 30.

Anywho, back to playing around with my New Discovery…

Mishy <3