New blood!

Just came back from blood donation session in Salem Church Hall.. I'm feeling great, no dizziness or unwell =D, and am going to share my experience of donating blood in the UK..

It was in a hall, which could also functions as a basketball court, when we arrived there were loads of people, young and old, female and male.. and the way people lying there without any expression actually made me feel A LITTLE BIT nervous.. =S (Originally I was really excited, another thing is Jocelyn, she was damnnnnn gan jiong ==). After seeing the nurse at the reception, I was given a folder with information regarding blood donation.. after waiting for 40 minutes or so, a lady called my name (without being able to pronounce my name, as usual, xD). Then she went through those details regarding my personal details, medical history, sexual life, travel history with me.. and here come the first "barrier"! She noticed that I just came back from Malaysia few weeks ago and told me that m'sia is one of the nations of Malaria contagiousness ._. I was like "HUH!!" (in my mind only) and she would consult another nurse to see whether I could donate.. So I waited impatiently.. another Black nurse came to me, asked if I was from "taman negara", "Sabah" & "Sarawak" ("HUH? is there anyone coming from taman negara? xD"), I simply said I was far from all those places.. So yes, I passed through the first barrier and was ready to go, MANA TAHUUUU... the lady sat me now.. said "not yet" ==!!

next I think I've got too long paragraph and it's time to start a new one. Next she let know some information and then wanted to get some blood from my finger to check my iron level.. and here come my second barrier of blood donation. Yes, I haven't got enough iron level. The blood was supposed to sink in the pretty ocean-blue liquid but it didn't!! ._. She gave me a second chance, but same thing happened, "you should eat more chocolate and meat!". I'm pretty sure she could feel how disappointed I was, and then only did she say, she could check with the machine by getting some blood from my arm.. and "who knows? the level could be 125 and you can donate then!" (the minimum to donate is 125). "OK! I would like to try pleasee". ANDDDD, this lady!! I supposed she only know how to do the questions stuff but not injecting (shouldn't be called injecting but I don't know the term =S), she put the needle into my right arm, and couldn't find the vein, instead of taking the needle out and try again like in m'sia, she KEPT THE NEEDLE under my skin and keep TURNING AROUND IN my arm........ then she gave up, holding the needle (which its head still in my arm, my whole arm was in a state of numbness ==") and asking for help from another nurse.. I am very sure my face written "PAINNNNNN, it really hurts", but my mouth keep saying "it's ok" when she apologized.. then come another nurse, which supposed to be more pro when she said "I can do it", thennnnnn.. she did the same thing.. turning the head of the needle under my skin.. then all 3 of us see a bruise coming out ==!!! and the previous lady took out the needle. I looked at the tube.. and it was empty, (my face turned green? blue? purple?) but the lady said, it could be enough.. and next she carried out some procedures bla bla bla.. put my blood into a machine.. and it showed "125" muahahaahhahaha.. so, FINALLY... i was allowed to give blood...

Next I made sure myself had enough water, as it was said that drinking enough water could make sure we are well after the donation (for most people la).. then waited to be called again. Nothing special after that, I accept the pain and the nurse was skilful and experienced enough I'd say.. or perhaps I have experienced the MOST painful version of it, so I could tahan.. (believe me I'm someone who really can resist pain but that friendly-but-not-skilful nurse was really doing it baddddly) She had totally no problem in seeking the vein and it just caused a bit pain =). I was doing great except my blood wasn't running quick enough and she kept asking me to relax.. xD So.. there goes my 475ml bloody blood.. I wish it's all fine and is going to help people in need =D

Now I have got very good reason to eat chocolate =D (not for sufficient iron level! but for the sake that I dont want to be injected by an inexperienced nurse!!!). Also have got 3 plasters on hands and one bruise =S. It would take about 6 weeks to "refill" all my donated blood, and 16 weeks till next time I am allowed to donate again. Oh ya, there was a guy whom Jocelyn spoke to, he has donated for 50 times!! and Joce said he looks at his late 30s only.. I want to go again.... =D

My friend told me that donating blood will make us gain weight.. is that true??

Blog Trailer

I have got sooooo much to talk about. I know it's time for me to start blogging again. Can't believe it's now March and there were only 5 published posts this year =S.

But, I'm not in the mood today.. Give me some times.. Meanwhile I will hopefully still be sharing some stuff..

P.S. Don't ask me what this post is for. I have no idea either ._.

Imbalanced Human Sex Ratio & Gendercide

重男輕女性別大屠殺‧全球1億女嬰消失

（英國‧倫敦）週一（3月8日）是“三八”國際婦女節，但在宣揚女權的這一天，全球已陷入一場殺女胎保男胎的“性別滅絕”（Gendercide）浩劫，其中以中國和印度最為嚴重。

儘管人類社會已邁入21世紀，但重男輕女的觀念仍在全球作祟。根據英國最新一期《經濟學人》雜誌報導，全球因此慘遭墮胎、殺害或疏於照顧因而夭折的女嬰，正以數百萬計的數字消失，稱之為“性別滅絕”，毫不為過！

重男輕女亞洲最嚴重

報導稱，重男輕女的現象在亞洲最為嚴重，因為當地傳統上認為繼承家業、奉養父母、傳宗接代、養家活口，都是男性的責任。

在亞洲部份偏遠地區，刻意殺害女嬰的現象仍然非常普遍，而現代的超音波掃瞄技術，更助長這類歪風，使一心只想添丁的準父母以墮胎手術打掉女胎。

近年小家庭當道，頭一胎是女嬰勉強可以留下來，第二胎還是女的就會打掉。

中國印度男女失衡

據統計，在中國和北印度，1980年代男女嬰出生比率100比108，但現在的男女嬰比例卻是120比100，中國部份農村地區更達到驚人的130比100，失衡情況十分嚴重，反映生男生女受人為影響。

除了中印兩國，包括台灣與新加坡在內的東亞國家、歐洲巴爾幹半島、高加索地區，甚至美國的華裔與日裔，同樣有男女嬰比例嚴重失衡的現象。

早在1990年，印度經濟學家塞恩便認為，因重男輕女觀念而消失的女嬰數量，高達1億人，而現在這一數字只會更高。

《經濟學人》警告，“性別滅絕”的現象遍及全球，且不分貧富與宗教，形同大規模屠殺，對社會的衝擊極為嚴重。

報導指出，性別失衡令許多男性成年後找不到配偶，衍生社會問題，並導致犯罪率飆升，包括販賣女性、性暴力、女性自殺等。

各國性別屠殺情況

中國恐成世界最大光棍國

《經濟學人》報導，目前中國男女嬰的出生比例為120比100，可能是現代人類歷史中最不平衡的例子，在15年內，中國兩性人口數將出現3000萬至4000萬的落差，估計全國有五分之一年輕男性，將因男女性別失衡而無法找到結婚對象。

這是個嚴重的問題，對中國發展的威脅比財務失衡、環境災難更危險，可能使中國成為世界最大的光棍國。

報導指出，中國男性過剩也可能形成永久的下層社會，遭到危險利用。

中國多達1億5000萬的民工，多為失業的未婚男性，而且其中大部份沒有受教育，找不到穩定工作，他們聚集在車站，開始形成幫派。

印度成“缺少女人的國家”

印度寶萊塢影片“Matrubhoomi”（缺少女人的國家），描述印度偏遠村落因為女性寥寥無幾，出現5個兄弟“共用”一個妻子的故事，驚悚情節，反映出印度“殺嬰”和“殺胎”的嚴重後果。

印度“倡議研究中心”稱，這部電影是一個“警訊”，印度重男輕女，殺女嬰也許只出現在少數地區，但婦女被迫“選擇性墮掉女胎”卻很泛濫。

預定週三在《刺胳針》網站上刊出一項研究指出，由於產前的超音波檢驗可驗出胎兒的性別，在過去20年間，印度可能墮掉了1000萬個女胎。

而且不只貧窮鄉下才有這種現象，一項為期10年的研究顯示，首都德里的墮胎問題也很嚴重，尤其是已有女孩的家庭“墮得更兇”。

台灣性別失衡第3胎更明顯

台灣還是重男輕女嗎？數據顯示，是的。國民健康局調查發現，民眾生第一二胎，男女比例還算正常；但生第3胎，男嬰比率立即比女嬰多了20%，第4胎甚至多達近40%，顯然有“人為操作”。

台灣少子化嚴重，政府擬鼓勵生第3胎，防止台灣社會過度高齡化。但調查發現，鼓勵生第三四胎反而可能另外衍生男女失衡的問題。

值得注意的是，大城市跟非都會區全榜上有名。前者不排除是因為醫療資源跟資訊較多，民眾較懂得利用醫療科技做性別篩選，後者則很可能是受傳宗接代觀念影響。

美國科技篩選性別引道德爭議

大部份國家禁止以基因篩選決定胎兒的做法，但美國有少數診所不理會道德爭議或造成兩性失衡的可能，以約1萬9000美元（約馬幣6萬3500令吉）的高價位提供這樣的服務。

3年前，斯坦伯格醫生率先在市場上推出篩選胎兒性別的服務，稱為“胚胎植入前基因診斷”（PGD），準確度高達99%。

科學家從試管受精卵發育成的多枚胚胎各取出一個細胞，從DNA判斷男女，然後再把所要的性別植入母體內。

有生物倫理學家批評，這種做法可能促使性別失衡的速度加快，甚至走向“專屬設計寶寶”或“複製人”，但斯坦伯格堅稱，這個技術遠比印度和中國丟棄女嬰的做法人道得多。

整體而言，他的顧客中，美國人和加拿大人喜歡女孩，印度人和華人喜歡男孩，拉丁美洲國家的喜好約是各有一半。

回家吧 回到最初的美好

I'm now at home!!!

have got a lot to write about my journey from Cheltenham-London-Abu Dhabi-KLIA-Klang.. will write about it after I have enough sleep..

These days just had about 5 hours sleep in total.. =/

and wow!!

there had been so much renovation in the house..

I like the changes! Especially the bathrooms downstairs and the one in my big bro's room..

a lot of things going on..

my to-do list is also kind of long.. and, I want to eat many food! but.. seems like I haven't got the selera.. >"<

glad to be at home.. =D

Pek Cek

Bpeng and me are both in learning centre quiet study room now, not doing any study!

I don't why made me sooo pek cek..

the house internet is down 3-4 days ago, and I think the problem was on the router that it can't solve the ip address bla bla bla... tried restart and even reset and it still doesn't work

Got a friend who taught me how to go "inside" to check what is not working.. but I'm not pro enough to sort that out =/

then the landlord said Monday (i.e. today) her daughter's computer expert was coming to change a new router..

Yet very very very unfortunately, few days ago Bpeng lost her keys (we still don't understand how this happened) so she has kept all the spare keys in her room when her daughter and her friend came,

and they have to get into her daughter's room to get something to sort the internet out..

but bpeng wasn't at home... so we have to wait for another day.. (which I would have left)

I really really need the internet desperately..

to get bus ticket, to transfer money, to check terminal and weather, to contact my family, to find my referee (ex dissertation supervisor, i.e. Kerry Rees), to keep in touch with many people..

If it's any other time in the year it should be fine, as we can always come to the Uni,

but the weather truly, seriously sucks!! and the Uni was closed last week..

it's sooo difficult to go anywhere =(

grrrrrr...

Anyway, thats it for the grumbles.. and guess what,

I forgot to note this in my blog,

that I'm flying back to Malaysia tomorrow!!!!!

I haven't been home for more day 500 days already! The longest period in my life...

I miss home badly.. miss the feelings of staying at home badly..

miss a lots of food badly..

And this time I'm also going back for erge's (i.e. my second brother) wedding.. =DD

I'm quite excited! hahaha.. although I don't really know what to expect..

Next thing would be Chinese New Year celebration that I have missed for 3 years..

until my grandma has forgotten my angpao.. = =

Ohya.. and two days ago was my last day at Primark..

a place that I had been working for more that three years,

it's kind of a mixture of strange feelings.. but I'm glad that I've known a group of nice colleagues there, and the appreciations they've got to me..

It's actually hard .. to leave. =X

Anyway, in less than 24 hours I'm leaving this land already.. hope the weather is good enough during the departures.. I want to be home on time! *pray*

生命教育

她用轉注的眼神，盯著小桌上的白紙，然後，用意志驅使一隻腳，在紙上寫了“黃昭芊 ooi zhao qian”幾個字。

黃昭芊小朋友的照片，讓我的淚水在眼眶裡打轉。

我看到的是生命的一份悸動，就在昭芊的身上。

是的，字體整齊漂亮，腳趾靈活……，但是，這些都不是重點。

驚人的是她小小的軀體，散發出強大的力量。

這一股力量，正在驅動她的生命，也會改變她的命運。

之前的一晚，我在夜市看到另外一幕。

也是一個小孩，肢體殘缺，衣衫襤褸，雙目無神，躺在路上，身旁一個罐子。

看不出是男孩或女孩，也看不出種族國籍，不……，我根本不忍心看他。

生命在他身上消失，命運在他身上下咒。

天啊！回想起來，昭芊和他，是天淵之別。

生命是莊重的，但是，也可能是卑微的；兩者的分別，在於我們如何對待之。

昭芊的媽媽李愛雲女士，沒有因為女兒身體構造的不同，而逃避或放棄，反而用更多的愛來灌溉，從2歲開始就訓練她以腳代手，克服障礙。

她的姨婆為她縫製特別的校服；舅舅給她製作了一個特別的小輪椅；學校為她安排方便的課室。

還有，那群小朋友，沒有芥蒂地和她一起遊戲。

對生命施以愛，生命就會成長，進而莊嚴。

對生命冷漠、排斥、摧殘，生命就會封閉、枯萎。

當大家愛昭芊，昭芊也會愛自己，她會感覺自己和別人一樣，一點也不差，更沒有絲毫的所謂“可憐”，甚至比很多人都更加健全。

這就是一種生命教育，懂得愛自己，珍惜自己的生命；不管命運降下時是如何，你就是要改變它，使它更加美好，光明。

18世紀，英國經濟學思想家邊沁（Jeremy Bentham）寫了一封信給朋友的女兒，其中一段說：

“盡你的能力去創造所有的幸福快樂，盡你的能力去解除發生在你身上的不幸；

“你每一天要儘可能對別人的幸福增加一點，或是讓別人的不幸減少一點；

“如果你在別人的心田增加一點快樂，你將發現，這份快樂是在自己的心田收割；

“如果你將別人心中的悲哀趕走，你將會發現，在你的靈魂的聖殿，洋溢安寧和喜悅。”

我們在昭芊小朋友的身上，學到許多；其中一項是尋找自我生命的意義。

星洲日報／馬荷加尼‧作者：鄭丁賢‧2010.01.05

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今天 不是想写什么"神等"人才写的话 只是 今天很巧在生活中 朋友身上 看到了什么是 知足 怎样 才是个懂得为别人为自己想的人 怎样 才是个"好人" 然后又读到这篇 就顺便分享一下 =D

Adoption of Puppies

I received an email entitled "Adoption of Puppies" on 1st of January. Initially, I thought it was either advertisement or scam, as I couldn't recognize that email address (XXXX000j at something dot com, the XXXX was an English name). The message was as followed

Hello,
My Name is XXXX Jones, I and my husband are on a Christian
Mission to Africa and I came along with our Teacup Yorkshire Terrier
Babies and English Bulldog.After a While, I notice that the African
Weather isnot good forthe puppies.I need someone to adopt both and take
care ofthem.They are AKC REGISTERED: TEACUP. HOME RAISED, VACINES &
HEALTH GUARANTEED.

I was simply curious and wonder how she has got my email, so I replied and told her that I would like to look at the pictures of the puppies. Especially I just heard from a friend who met scam in KL yesterday, and really want to know whether this person is sincere or what she really wants from me. And I've got her reply today:

Hello,

I really appreciate your response.My husband and I are currently in the Republic of Benin Africa on missionary work we're visiting 5 countries!

Right now there are so many factor's and the weather in africa will is too hot for them and I don't want them to suffer in anyway. I have been praying to have someone who can take good care of them and give them all the love in the world. That's all they want.. We're due for more travel to some remote part of west africa and I cannot risk taking them along as I know it will have adverse effect on them, health wise.

I attached the pictures of my puppies,the little girl(Katty) is 1.9lbs and while the male(Rolly) is weigh 2lbs,both are 12 weeks old they should be to 3 to 4lb range full grown and (Lula) the bulldog is 13weeks old they are all potty trained and very friendly with children,Can you tell me alittle bit more about you? and let me know the hours when dog would be left alone?

please email me i am anxious in find my babies a new home.They're lovely puppies will come along with all necessary health paper work and Vet Record,Birth Certificate,Shot Book,Travel Crate,Toys And Foods.

Hope to read from you.
XXXX wood

The first time I read it, I felt she was really sincere, and when I looked at the pictures that she attached, I swear I really start thinking how I could help (obviously I won't be able to adopt them) and started feeling a bit guilty that I've given her hope by replying her first email! She showed that she really cares about the doggies, and wants to know more about me and hence to know the time those doggies would be left alone.

Did you spot anything suspicious yet?

My email was registered when I was in Malaysia, and I'm currently in the UK. She is in Africa, but where is she from? Does she know where I am at the moment? How is she going to "send" or "pass" me those doggies? I thought this should be an important issue but why is she not mentioning it at all? OK, she might be sending me, well, somehow, that's still possible, right? (I'm not sure, I heard people sending pets from UK to the China and it took few months and the pets would really had had enough to suffer)

Secondly, the initial email she told me she was xxxx Jones, but within a day (guess she divorced get married to Mr Wood?), she is now xxxx Wood.

The initial motive of this post, is to help searching owners for the puppies (although I'm aware the readers of my blog are either UK students who would rather spend their money on shopping or good food or people in Malaysia):

Lula

Katty and Roly.

Lovely, aren't they? I really don't want to google images (of puppies/bull dog/dogs) and find out they are actually pictures from world wide web. = =

What do you think?

The Memorables 2009

In the year of 2009...

Final Semester of the Final Year of my BSc. - 5th Jan

This is definitely a semester that I made myself work harder, especially on dissertation. Although the whole degree, I hadn't really put my full effort (if it were to be compared with high school). And, three years seemed to be a bit short, and is it time flew?

Dissertation Completed - 21st April

It was the first time I did my assignment this way, that I ignored all the day/night time, I just worked, slept, ate.. If I was tired I just slept, and ate when I was hungry, other than that, I would be doing my dissertation all the time. The final draft were completed on 30th March and handed in on 21st April. (Well Done?)

Final Exam - 28th April - 7th May

The very final exam of my degree. Results came out in June and I've got a first class. =D

Viwawa

A gaming site that played very important part in my life this year. I don't know why as I got to know this site far earlier but I only become kind of addicted to it this year. (but it's well under control now =P) (Zany Bridge)

Attending KimFoong & William's wedding - 18th May

It was a special experience. And also a great trip with Sammi, Stephy and Bpeng. (Attending a wedding)

My 22th birthday - 17th June

I have been in the UK for 3 years yet this is the very first birthday celebration in the UK. Thanks to those great friends, specially to Bpeng! (The 22th birthday)

A special friend was also welcomed to my life few days before it..

First summer in the UK

Spending my summer time for the first time in the UK and seeing all the UK good old friends leaving one by one.

It is also a period of relaxing job hunting, got to some interviews but didn't get any job offer =(

Drug and Alcohol Service - volunteer - September- November

I went through two interviews successfully and became one of the volunteer under training for the Drug and Alcohol Service in the Independent Trust.

The course lasts for 10 weeks and it was really comprehensive and informative.

Post Study Working Permit - September

Sent the application out at beginning of September and got it back three weeks later, it has allowed me to stay in the UK for two years.

Family Visiting the UK - 7th Nov - 27th Nov

I was really excited upon their arrivals!

We visited London, Edinburgh, Bourton on the water, Avebury, Stonehenge in the UK, and Paris, Disneyland Paris, Venice, Pisa, Florence, Rome in Europe. It was my second visit to some of the places and it is really different to visit a same place with friends and family.

I think the trip was kind of long that it was quite tiring yet we had a very good time. It's good to see them here after so long not being at home, and good to show them around the places that I have been for three years.

Graduation- 19th Nov

The graduation ceremony itself doesn't worth much words but I was glad that family has been here for me and for it.

We also had a short gathering with those good old friends in the UK.

-For the past 22 years of my life, this is the only year that I'd never stepped on the land of Malaysia.-

Here comes to the very end of the year 2009, good bye to 2009 and..

Happy New Year 2010!!

Have a blessed and healthy year!!

World's Friendliest Countries

The Expat Explorer Survery revealed that Malaysia is in the top 5 list of World's friendliest Countries.. What do you think??

The top ten

1. Bahrain

2. Canada

3. Australia

4. Thailand

5. Malaysia

6. South Africa

7. Hong Kong

8. Singapore

9. Spain

10. United States

Also, Malaysia has got

#1 in "Organizing school for my children" (it's probably due to the very different standards of school in Malaysia?)

#3 in "Organizing my finances"

#3 in "Organizing my health care"

#4 in "Making friends" (I like this =D)

#4 in "Finding somewhere to live" (not so sure about what it means.. = =)

#14 in "Making local friends" (oh.. prefer making international friends than the locals huh?)

#19 in "Joining community group" (thought we could be better?)

Further story from yahoo news

World's friendliest Countries

Comments about the news (worth reading if you've got some times, I was a bit shocked with what some people have said..)

Comments

p.s. My thought is at the comment section.. or my post will get too long =/

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Some Psychology students might ask this?

Methodology

More than 3,100 expatriates were surveyed between February and April 2009.The respondents were asked to rate 23 factors related to their quality of life, including food, entertainment, transportation, health care, finances, education and their ability to make friends. Each criterion is equally weighted to arrive at a score. The overall ranking is based on the average score for a country across the criteria. Eight measures were also selected to comprise the integration score: organizing school for my children; organizing my finances; organizing my health care; finding somewhere to live; making friends; making local friends; setting up utilities; and joining local community groups. The integration score was used to determine the friendliest countries.

Zany Bridge

In the year of 2007, Kian, Limpeh, Joyce, Michelle, Bpeng and me went to a 12 day Europe trip together. During that period, the 4 of them have been really into a game - Bridge. And they have taught us some basics of it. I need to say that I had not really mastered the game during that short period, and didn't understand why they were so into it.

Then during the final exam period of 2008, Peiman introduced us an online gaming site -Viwawa. I saw my previous blog that we were like playing mahjung etc nearly every night.. HAHA (exam period ma..). After that, I couldn't remember when, but I noticed the Zany Bridge in the list of games and started trying it myself. Then I started on off playing it and until this year become really addicted to it during assignments/dissertation peak period..

Actually I've always wanted to blog about this, especially in writing guide so that I could have real life friends to play with me... (I miss playing with real cards as well =/) As I would say, none of the games in vww is (that) addicting, its only zany, an intellectual game that I would say you could hardly master it, and that you would always find ways to improve yourself, and enjoy differently when you play with different "level" players. The thing is the game is kind of complicated, if we were to put everything in words (and it's not the one you could search on Wikipedia), yet I think viwawa forum can provide you some basics.

Why am I talking about all these suddenly? Coz I was clearing my laptop earlier and I found some screen shots.. I learnt this from another player rainb0w81, that she always print screen whenever some special or weird stuff, bugs take place.. And I found these which are what we would call "sure win" in min 4 games (minimum bid of 4) that we play. (I dont really know the purpose of printing these screens, so i guess the only thing I could do is to put it in my blog, although I clearly doubt how many readers can understand what those hands mean >"<)

This is what we call 2-suit (also could have bidded 5nt).

For me, it's a hand that's impossible to lose,

yet my partner (tas) has got the ability to make this sure win game.. lose = =

as that was just he and me who had hearts, and he kept throwing hearts, so the opponents kept trump and ended up wasted all my heart set.

This is also 2-suit. but rely less on the 2nd (non-trump) suit..

could hardly lose..

I wonder how awful the other's hands are.. xD

These 3 hands, are the sure-win hand for 5NT (including a set winning by partner)

O.O

10 Trumps!! (if playing got trumps la, but I bidded 5NT- i.e. No Trump), called Ace dia, which was rain, and we got all 13 sets.

There is a player who played more than 30k games, and he said he has got 10 trumps only for once!!

But so far I've got twice already.

p.s. these players (rainb0w81, csyuan, ariel_23) are awesome.. are also those that I spent most of my time to play with.. as I seldom play with random people anymore.. and another one is Sissywawa.

Obviously very crazy and imbalanced hand.. =D

me and Lilbarbie got 13 sets too..

So... can anyone understand what I'm talking about? xD

Anyway, all those hands that were shown are just the best part of loads game played (i.e. you would hardly see cards as good as those), and luck is just a very small part of zany bridge, especially when you play a lot, what matters is always skills.

And finally... let me know if you want to learn.. if I can't teach, I can probably find you a good tutor.. =D

A letter by a Malaysian in the USA

I am a female Chinese Malaysian, living in the Washington DC area in the United States . I have read many of the letters that often talk about foreign countries when the writers have no real knowledge of actually living in those countries.

Many draw conclusions about what those countries are like after hearing it from someone else or by reading and hearing about them in the media or after four years in a college town in those countries.

I finished STPM with outstanding results from the prestigious St George's Girls School in Penang . Did I get a university place from the Malaysian government? Nothing. With near perfect scores, I had nothing, while my Malay friends were getting offers to go overseas.

Even those with 2As got into university. I was so depressed. I was my parent's last hope for getting the family out of poverty and at 18, I thought I had failed my parents.

Today, I understand it was the Malaysian Government that had failed me and my family because of its iscriminatory policies.

Fortunately, I did not give up and immediately did research at the Malaysian American Commission on Education Exchange (MACEE) to find a university in the US that would accept me and provide all the finances. My family and
friends thought I was crazy, being the youngest of nine children of a very poor carpenter. Anything that required a fee was out of our reach.

Based on merit and my extracurricular activities of community service in secondary school, I received full tuition scholarship, work study, and grants to cover the four years at a highly competitive US university.

Often, I took 21 credits each semester, 15 credits each term while working 20 hours each week and maintaining a 3.5 CGPA. A couple of semesters, I also received division scholarships and worked as a TA (teaching assistant) on top of everything else.

For the work study, I worked as a custodian (yes, cleaning toilets), carpet layer, computer lab assistant, grounds keeping, librarian, painter, tour guide, etc. If you understand the US credit system, you will understand this is a heavy load.

Why did I do it? This is because I learnt as a young child from my parents that hard work is an opportunity, to give my best in everything, and to take pride in the work I do. I walked away with a double major and a minor with honours but most of all a great lesson in humility and a great respect for those who are forced to labour in so-called `blue collar' positions.

Those of you who think you know all about Australia , US, or the West, think again. Unless you have really lived in these countries, i.e. paid a mortgage, paid taxes, taken part in elections, you do not understand the level of commitment and hard work it takes to be successful in these countries, not just for immigrants but for people who have lived here for generations.

These people are where they are today because of hard work. (Of course, I am not saying everyone in the US is hardworking.. There is always the lazy lot which lives off of someone else's hard work. Fortunately, they are the
minority..)

Every single person, anywhere, should have the opportunity to succeed if they want to put in the effort and be accountable for their own actions. In the end, they should be able to reap what they sow.

It is bearable that opportunities are limited depending on how well-off financially one's family is but when higher education opportunities are race-based, like it is in Malaysia ; it is downright cruel for those who see education as the only way out of poverty.

If you want to say discrimination is here in the US , yes, of course it is. Can you name a country where it doesn't happen? But let me tell you one thing - if you go looking for it, you will find it. But in Malaysia , you don't have to go look for it because it seeks you out, slaps you in your face every which way you turn, and is sanctioned by law!

Here in the US , my children have the same opportunity to go to school and learn just like their black, white, and immigrant friends. At school, they eat the same food, play the same games, are taught the same classes and when they are 18, they will still have the same opportunities. would I want to bring my children back to Malaysia ? So they can suffer the state-sanctioned discrimination as the non-malays have for over 50 years?

The injustice the non-Malay have to suffer in frightening silence is the most damaging problem one has to face throughout one's life. You just have to look at the mighty govt structures which completely favours only one race, the Umno Malay. The Chinese and Indians are treated no better than the illegal Indonesians. Racism and corruption are openly practised by the Malay politicians everywhere, Courts, schools/Uni, police, govt offices, contracts, GLC, NEP, ISA, local govt.

It's so powerful and intimidating that you walk with fear and keep your mouth shut on anything and everything political. Religion is taboo unless you talk good about Islam. As for being a slave in the foreign country, I am a happy 'slave' earning a good income as an IT project manager.

I work five days a week; can talk bad about the president when I want to; argue about politics, race and religion openly; gather with more than 50 friends and family when I want (no permit needed) and I don't worry about the police pulling me over because they say I ran the light when I didn't.

Have we seen the light at the end of the tunnel yet (Anwar Ibrahim)? Or is it the head light of an oncoming Umno train ? Lets hope its the former for the sake of all fair minded Malaysians.

The dream of a Malaysian 'race' in the future is nowhere in sight with the present BN govt. Where is Negara-Ku???

Paris Disneyland

Some random pictures...

Disneyland Paris.. my 2nd visit!

Errrr.. who is this la?

(I took with quite many who-is-this-la..)

Muahahahaha...!

We were too excited that we didn't realize that's not Donald xD

until then we saw ...

Can you believe this!!

Both of them took picture with me.. together!!

Remember last time in Hong Kong Disneyland, I queued so long and could only take pic with Daisy..

Hahaha.. I like this!!

Gogo and ahjeh refused to take picture with it because..

They don't even know who that is..

and they kept laughing when I told them "Ratatouile" (as if I made it up)!

Spot pama in there..

I actually laughed out loud when I saw this..

It seems that they have had enough traffic jam in m'sia!

Why came to Disneyland also got traffic jam la? hahahaa..

I think if I have got time I'm going to gather all my pics with the disney characters..

coz last time when I came to Paris one, I took with quite a lot not so well known characters also..

and it seems that no matter how many times I went, I could still be very hyper when I was there.. hahaha

Empty

I'm back in Cheltenham

back from all the trips.. pama and jeh are on their way back already..

feel a bit empty,

this room used to be crowded by all of us and now it seems a bit too big >"<

(imagine 4 persons on a double bed room.. and 1 on floor. hahaha)

but I'm sure I will be back soon in January..

and I have loads of stuff that they brought me. =D

Hope they all will have good rest back home.

Will try to share my time with them these weeks.. (=

Later going to steamboat at 22hungerford..

Tomorrow have to back to work.. =S

A little too much

Came back from Paris on late night of Tuesday the 17th

then went to Stonehenge on the 18th

Had my Graduation Ceremony today the 19th

then met the good old Malaysian friends for a little while at night..

tomorrow the 20th morning leaving for London

21st early morning going to Venice..

Feel a bit complicated now..

tomorrow family will be leaving Cheltenham and not coming back to my little room anymore

yet I still have one more week in London and Italy with them..

Time flewwww... it reminded me the time when I still countdown the day of their arrival.

Hope everything will go well in London and Italy and we will have great time there =D

P.S. Had a great trip in Paris. UK has the worst weather, so.. ESCAPE!! hopefully I'd have time to blog about all the trips and my graduation ceremony!

P.S. 2 Congratulations to all the Graduates!! Well done! =P

Regards to all the uncles aunties and hope they all enjoy their time here.

Edinburgh Trip

Venue: Edinburgh, Scotland

Date: 9th-11th November 2009

Travellers: Papa, Mama, Ahjeh, me

Accommodation: Ramada Mount Royal Hotel (Bed & Breakfast)

Cost: £160 per person (Return journey rail from Cheltenham and 2 nights Bed and Breakfast)

This is really a nice place. Very beautiful and all the buildings would always draw in a Wow effect.

The train station we arrived at.
Waverley Bridge- the old buildings are in the Old Town.

Beautiful, aren't they? (the buildings, not the people xD)

St Giles Catheral

Old town.
The Old town.

View of the new town from the old town.

View in the Old town.

Good scene being shot in the Princes Street Garden. hahaha.

Most of the main tourist attractions like Edinburgh Castle, Camera Obscura- World of Illusion, Scotch Whisky Experience are all in walking distance. Although friends telling me this is a place that suits family trip, I'd say that that's too much walking for papa and mama. I can see that papa quite like this place, stunned by the beautiful old buildings, given that they've travelled so many places.

The Camera Obscura - World of Illusions. I found it quite interesting and feel worth visiting.

The cartoon version of me. There was also a baby version of me but ahjeh said it's too scary so I have decided not to scare my readers.. haha.

The heat detector.

HAHA.. mama looks so cute. xD

There were 8 of us. HAHA... not very clear though.

It's also very lucky to get a hotel at Princes Street, which is one of the very main street here. It makes going anywhere and searching good restaurants much easier (food was basically more or less the same as in England, but prices were lower I'd say).

The Scott Monument. As you can see, the Princes Street was under construction. But it didnt really bring any inconvenience to us..

The place we had our breakfast in Ramada.

Continental Breakfast.. this sort of things la..

In the Filling Station, a restaurant bar that serves nice food with reasonable prices.

During our last day we also found that the day trip bus ticket was just £3, unlimited uses for whole day, which is quite convenient for lazy people who like to sightseeing in and around the city.

Where to get your bus ticket? £1.10 for a journey or £3 for a day ticket?

We took bus 22 to the Britannia. This is the Royal Yacht Britannia Visitor Book. Not really worth the money visiting this I'd say.

Papa looks damn yeng, in the Britannia.

Love this trip although the scene itself is not the best but it's the first Europe trip for me with my family, also my only trip with family in recent years. The place, I'd say the historic buildings are sooo beautiful that you would think they were fakeee.. =D

P.S. There were too many photos, just roughly picked some out when I still have some time and memory about it. Feel free to ask me for further information =P. This saturday gogo will arrive and the 5 of us will be off to Paris for 4 days! =D

6.5 hours

They will be stepping on this land as I'm in just 6.5 hours..

They were in Abu Dhabi earlier and ahjeh was online.. =D

I'm thinking whether I should sleep.. because if I go to bed I don't know what time I should wake up.. hahaha...

Plus, I'm now watching Heroes Season 3.. arghhh so addictive..

I'm excited =D

*I did my base visit in Eastgate street today, and watched 6-7 clients coming for needle exchange, I've got so much thought!! It confused, surprised me and widen my knowledge. But from what we learnt from Confidentiality and Professional Boundaries I wonder whether I should blog about the clients.. (will write more about my thought if I've got the chance and time.. oppps, I dont think I do =P)

The day after tomorrow

Tomorrow I can finally say

"I'm going to see them tomorrow!!"

That day when I was booking coach tickets etc

I was already feeling down when I was checking the timetable for the coach from London to Heathrow airport at their final day here...

I'm already feeling sad merely imagining the arrival of the 27th

Anywayyyy... will definitely enjoyyyy the time..

Fingers crossed that everything will be good! (=

Update regarding my previous post - I've made up my mind not going to the job interview as I called them and the only option she gave me was either the 10th or the 11th, after checking the location etc, I think it's not quite possible for me to make it..

I'm sorry that I didn't choose to trust you...

but I was just worried..

Working opportunity??

Just now back home from Woo's house and realized that I've got an email from NHS, inviting me for a job interview on the 11th Nov.

I cant even remember when I applied for it, as I've already given up to look for job properly for quite some times.. especially I realized that I'd have to take such a long leave off work when my family is coming.. and it was such a HEARTACHE to be accepted to a job and then rejected it... simply because they said I can't have such long leave off work as I would have just started working by that time... (to be honest my tear nearly drop on spot >"< ) But soon I understand the thing we call "取舍", and for me family comes first.. and I was happy that I could join them in all the trips.. (and even happier when I know jeh was happy that I could join)

But what now? the 11th Nov, it's a few days after my family's arrival, and we have already booked holidays to Edinburgh... I just want to say................. KNS....

I wonder how many things it wants me to give up, to have 3 weeks "peacefully" with my family here in the europe la.. I would skip 2 days from my drug and alcohol service training course, 3 weekends off from Primark, and a job offer from Lloyds pharmacy.. and now.. aiyo... MUST YOU TREAT ME LIKE THIS???

Anyway, I'd see what I can do..

ANDDD!! tomorrow will be my last day working in Primark until the 28th!!!

thanks Leslie for approving our holiday requests!!!! she is the best manager! =D

(we actually got rejected by the Store Manager and then get approved by the Assistant manager hahaha... she's so daring la xD)

I still have 2 base visits (part of my training course) to do,

and there are 16 items in my to do list in preparation for my family visiting..

omgggg all I have is 3 days!! (but I'm loving this..)

p.s. I've got so many to say, but now all I need, is SLEEP!!

In 4 days

I just want to say

THIS FEELING IS SO STRANGE!!

that my papa mama ahjeh and gogo are coming to the UK

to travel and to attend my graduation ceremony

No doubt I'm really looking forward to it..

as I havent gone home for more than 1 year already.. (it's a new record =D)

I've started count down since 29 days ago

but it's strange

imagining the place that I've been on my own for 3+ years

and they are "appearing" here!!! here with me!!!

(would be perfect if erge will be here too, but i accept imperfection (= )

I hardly remember my dream

but I dreamt about it already

I'm really looking forward to it.. and I'm really, kind of.. nervous

in which.. I dont know why!!!

We are going to do a lot of travelling..

to some nice and famous places near to Cheltenham

and also London, Edinburgh, Paris, Rome, Venice and Florence..

Oh people I'm going to be busy, but I hope we'd all get to meet up especially those that are coming back purposely for the graduation ceremony... (but I understand that everyone would have their family to "take care" of)

Hope everything would be alright.

and everyone gets to enjoy to the fulllllesttttt!!

I'm also praying hard for Peiman and Bpeng will get back their passports asap too (=

全球十大旅行禁忌

大多數去國外旅遊的人總是會對當地的風俗有所顧忌，擔心自己會出錯，引起誤會，下面蒐集的是常見的旅行禁忌，以方便你更好地出行。

1.筷子
關於筷子有很多說法。在日本，不管任何原因，都不能把筷子插入飯碗裡離開，因為這是不祥的徵兆。因為飯碗裡直立的筷子會讓日本人想起墓碑。而且，如果你用入口那端的筷子去夾菜也是一種不禮貌的行為，應該用另一端去夾菜。在中國和很多其他的國家，用筷子指別人也是不禮貌的。

2.參觀清真寺
所有人，不管是穆斯林還是非穆斯林，在踏入清真寺前都要脫鞋。遊客也應該遵循穆斯林的穿衣風格：男士應該穿長褲和長袖襯衫；女士應該遮住所有裸露在外的皮膚，雖然各國對此的嚴格性會有所不同。女士必須圍頭巾，如果你沒有，在很多大的清真市入口處你可以借一條。

3.送花
在烏克蘭，如果你打算送花，一定要確保花束是奇數，因為偶數的花束是送在葬禮上的。如果你要給女主人送花，或為慶祝生日或其他特殊節日，不要送黃花或復活節百合，因為這些花也只是為葬禮準備的。

4.接吻
在英國的柴郡，火車乘客不允許在站台逗留、親昵話別，也不允許接吻。如果你真的有很多離別的話要說或想要接吻，你可以去接吻區域。

5.鹽
雖然埃及人非常好客，但是他們的烹飪卻有些溫柔的自我。在埃及旅行的時候，不要在你的碗里加鹽，因為這被看作是對廚師的侮辱。幸運的是，由於埃及人烹飪時經常使用大蒜、洋蔥和其他芳香劑，埃及的食物還是很可口的。

6.參觀教堂
如果你打算在溫暖的氣候去意大利的教堂，出發的時候不要僅僅帶短褲和無袖上衣。去意大利教堂天主教大教堂的遊客穿著必須謹慎，無論是男士還是女士，都不允許穿短褲和無袖上衣。在教堂門口會有警衛或教民檢查，所以在出發的時候記得帶上一件長袖衫或其他套頭衫。

7.代表成功的V手勢
在大不列顛做“V”手勢的時候掌心不要向內，因為這被認為是挑釁或侮辱。據說，2個手指的致意是起源於英法百年戰爭。法國揚言要砍掉所有英國人射箭的手指頭，結果最後英國大勝，因此擺出手指來炫耀自己是完好無損的。

8.侮辱國王
泰國人將其80歲的國王普密蓬‧阿杜德（Bhumibol Adulyadej）視為神靈，將其畫像作為護身符希望給自己帶來好運。因此對他的侮辱會被認為是犯罪，會被判處15年的監禁。

9.碰杯
匈牙利人敬酒的時候不會碰杯，因為奧地利人曾經在殺害13個匈牙利烈士後用碰杯而慶祝。之後的150年之內，沒有任何一個匈牙利人在敬酒的時候碰杯。現在雖然過去很長時間了，但是這個傳統還一直保留。對於遊人來說，記住這個傳統比記住匈牙利語的乾杯容易多了。

10.吃光碟子內的所有食物
在柬埔寨，如果你吃光碟子內所有的食物，這表明主人沒有招待好你，因為你沒有吃飽還想要。

Source was SinChew paper, not sure how true they are but I think they could be very useful. E.g. the 6th, I think when we were in Italy we didnt come across this problem, but I was requested to get a scarf when I wore sleeveless top and visited a church in Vatican City..