Back In Penang

Day 1- 7.00am : Kena Con

After getting up slightly late, mom yelling for me to hurry, dad telling me he cant send me cause he's got gout and brother still asleep in bed-managed to get myself together (somewhat) and out the house. My own fault as: 1.Didn'tcomplete packing the night before 2.Slept late
Ended up chucking stuff into my blue flower power sling bag-contact lense solution, biscuits, shower gel...everything i could see that i thought i needed.
Reason i had to ciao early that morning is cause i HAD to register on the 27th and in order to reach USM before the office closes, had to take earliest bus lor...

Here's where i got abit conned. Konsortium earliest bus is 7.30am, i arrived at Pudu with mom at 7am, went to the counter and there was a dude there (another bus company) selling tickets to Penang, 7am bus. I asked la "Pegi Sg. Nibung?" He said Yes, yes,yes... So fine, i'm not fussy
Mana tau, the usual 4hour journey took 5hours instead!!!
Why ?
Because the bus stopped at Ipoh station dropped off and took new passengers, then stopped at Butterworth, THEN only moved on to Sg. Nibung... BAH !
Butt and back aching man...

Anyways, thankfully kind hearted Daniel Sg. Nibung picked me up from the bus station.

PENANG IS SO DARN HOT !!!

Had lunch and went to get hostel keys, but? Office was having lunch break, so closed...Annoying man- i mean, loads of people were travelling from all over at all hours of the day, they should at least stay open for the first few days.

Basically, at 2+ got my keys, dumped stuff in my room (room was unnatural and unfamiliar- totally empty and bare...) and zoomed over to School of Humanities to register for my course. My PA (Penasihat Akademik) was pushing for me to take7 subjects, and i actually did...but after much thought, i knew i couldn't handle it so i dropped one subject. Quite stressed cause they didnt offer my minor foundation to us, but in some compassionate sort of way they offered a 2nd year mass com subject, so it kind of works out...

Suria returned from S'wak at about 4+ and i went to greet her.
Finally when it got cooler we dared to go and locate our barang-barang from the store...
OH MY GOODNESS!

Looked like a tornado had hit okay...Everything was everywhere- bags and boxes ripped and strewn about...Terrible man! Thankfully i had only 2 big boxes which i sealed with ALOT of tape, so it was relatively unhurt..Poor Suria, one of her's was totally shredded to bits- literally some stuff was scattered on the store room floor, some outside and the box remains were found few meters away from the store room door. She was pissed...

Lugging it all down was difficult,even harder cause we would burst out laughing every few minutes, and its super hard to carry stuff when laughing, trust me...
Here's what we had to sort out :














(not full pic, couldnt fit in camera screen)
Took us the whole night man, finished at about 11pm i think...Was so tired that i fell asleep straight away and had the best sleep- uninterrupted and deep (world peace and global warming deep)

Day 2 - Classes Begin (so fast)

COLD SHOWERs AGAIN =(
But nothing much happened otherwise la, classes and seeing classmates- dropped the subject and checked the tutorial times.I tell you, first few days always suck because of the signing up etc..So ber-hassle man.

Day 3
Now i'm here again in the internet cafe
Later i've got a hostel meeting at 10pm, i was summoned for it (Eeps!) its for the athletics la, an inter-hostel sports day coming up

I sorta miss home...
Not the *cry cry cry* moan n groan type, but i just wished i had a few more days
Didnt get to say goodbye to many people
Never got to see some people as much as i would have liked to
Wanted to spendmore time with mom
Little Dog and Snubby
The surviving fish
Stoop Pig

Oh well...Only good thing that will come from being back here is i'll be able to lose my Christmas pounds that was put on... =p

Christmas Isn't Christmas...

My bag's 3/4 packed, and i'm almost ready to go...I've still not got my ticket (tsk...tsk..) but called up Konsortium Bus Ekspress and the impatient lady said there's still alot of tickets for the 7.30am bus. So i'm trying my luck tmr morning... I dowanna go back!!!
Kayla, this is the side thats been having such tremendous fun the past few weeks at home, and i know once i'm back in Penang i'll be alright- busy with all the registration and getting my room back in order (Gosh-i hope my stuff's alright)
Back to my boisterous roommate and the sucky hostel food.

Yesterday Christmas was good.
Morning worship was meaningful, and as usual, you suddenly see the hall filled with people that come only those few times a year...Doesn't matter, at least they come. I sat in my usual spot near the P.A. and halfway through Su let out a girly squeal cause he nearly/did drop something and everyone turned to stare...kekeke...Its always like that- the poor PA guys will get the evil eye from folkes if the mike's not working or they make a sound during worship. Actually not all evil eye la- most have a curious amused face (like me)
Had to leave straight after to go makan with my family, we always eat Christmas lunch together and we went for buffet at the Sunway Hotel. It was great...Its rare that my family is all together, and all together happily without outside influences. We ate SO much! Thinking back now, i know i couldn't have fit even a tiny pea into my mouth or my tummy would explode...!

Ordered watermelon juice, and when the waiter brought it it slipped outta his hand as he was putting it on the table and splashed everywhere...Lucky it missed me & Andrea, sloshed all over the table. I totally knew how the waiter dude felt cause that's happened to me before, when working at Tucker Box- but worse. It was hot chocolate that i spilt, lucky the customer was quick and managed to dodge it. AND he was such a nice man, he didnt scold or look pissed...He was telling me 'Its okay, no worries...' I was about to burst into tears okay...

Spent the rest of the evening at home, chilling with the family, opening prezzies...I got a fantastic gift from them, but its something that i dont think i deserve, really dont deserve it...And I feel as if i dont really need it, althought its gonna be a great help to me.
I'm gonna miss my family (Snubby and LD included) Geram la, wanna stay...but as i usually tell others that the grass is not always greener on the other side. If i was in UM, i'd be moaning about how i cant get away from everything, if i was in UKM i'd be nearer to home but complaining there's nothing to do...In USM i complain when its time to head back there...Like i said, it'd be fine once i actually get started and the cycle starts again, but at the moment its so bleh! Being in a relationship seems to make it just that lil-bit-worse. I remember once what he said: Its hard when you wanna do things with your best friend, but your best friend is not around.
Sad

Well, TLC's Christmas celebration was wonderful- the choir sounded really good, and the piece itself was the right one to choose...Congrats Adrene! Many lovely songs,i want a copy! And this year there was a part where the lil kids came to sing, and you could see camera flashes as the parents went wild clicking, probably grinning ear to ear at their son/daughter.. =) But the kids were adorable, and got a loud clap from us. It doesn't matter what they actually sound like or if they get it all wrong- there's the awwwwww......so cuteeee factor that takes over. Eugene's solo sounded great, like some pop-star, his voice is heartmelting (a Jee Lee word) Overall, another great performance!

After that went out (minus a feverish-headachedWeng Yan) in Joshua's no petrol Kembara. I tell you, deciding where to go and makan is more difficult than figuring out the Trinity... Ended up going round in circles with RM10 petrol until the inevitable choice of Williams was made. But before that we were surprised when the song We Are The Reason came on the radio- we screamed our heads off okay...(Y.San called home and said "Dad, People Need the Lord is on the radio!" kekeke,Ah San, oh Ah San... =p ) i've NEVER heard the more obvious Christian songs on the radio before, just play the secular carols and stuff... Check out the story we came up with for the DJ: that he was this Christian dude- all alone in the station cause everyone else was on leave, and he sacrificed his holiday so he could stay and play these songs...So noble! Thanks Mr. DJ !

After, i zoomed over (within speed limit) to find Stoop
Nice ending to the day- comfort, warmth, contentment...

Gosh, long post...Who cares-its my last one from home.

Mom's making dinner for me now, i'm going to kay-po.
=)

*Yes, we sang Christmas Isn't Christmas last night...a song TLC is sure to sing every year, and if its not- something just seems wrong*

Christmas isn't Christmas
'Til it happens in your heart.
Somewhere deep inside you
Is where Christmas really starts.
So give your heart to Jesus
You'll discover when you do
That it's Christmas,
Really Christmas for you.

Jesus brings you warmth like a winter fire
A light like a candle's glow.
He's waiting now to come inside
As he did so long ago.
Jesus brings gifts of truth and light
And makes them bloom and grow.
So welcome Him with a song of joy
And when He comes, you'll know...

That Christmas isn't Christmas
'Til it happens in your heart
Somewhere deep inside you
Is where Christmas really starts.

So give your heart to Jesus.
You'll discover when you do
That it's Christmas, really Christmas
Christmas, really Christmas
Christmas, really Christmas for you.

Happy B'day

Twas the night before Christmas,
when all through the house
not a creature was stirring,
not even a mouse

My feelings at the moment are totally topsy-turvy.
The past few days i've been so happy.
Which makes leaving all the harder.

I'm sitting in my living room now. My family is around me.
Pressie's in the tree
House looking nice
Have the whole Christmas mood

But i'm not focusing on the real/true/actual meaning of it all...
The birth of Christ

Its 12

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Small World

What have i not done :

I've not got my bus ticket
I've not finished Xmas shopping for most important people- family
I've not cleaned up my room
I've not got anything nice to wear for Xmas
I've not seen eveyone i want to before i leave
I've not hung out the washing

Past few days have flown by, busy with my buddies...I went for a dinner and dance on Sunday, Kitty Cat's church held it in Royal Selangor Club...Was nice! So jolly the mood was, and people were just enjoying themselves without giving a hoot bout what others thought.
Cheryl Samad was the MC that night, and it was nice to see her go around shaking hands and intoducing herself to people, and she came to me

Her:Hi, i'm Cheryl shake hand
Me: Hi, i'm Shelby
Her:Oh, i know you
Me: Huh? How is that possible?
Her:You're Cameron's sister right?
Me: Yeah, i am...and how on earth do you know him?
Her: We used to do ads together

Kekeke, small world eh...
But it sucks to always be known as Cameron's sister

Helped Cat paint her room the next day, Firdaus came along too...That was fun, and funny.
For some reason its easier and more enjoyable to help someone else do work, than to do your own... =p

Joshua's Xmas tree is up...FINALLY! Funny la, the past 2years we've helped him assemble it, and this year its the 3rd time..Might be the start of a tradition.. Sadly, i've still yet to give his dad a NORMAL impression of me...I'm forever getting into the most embarrassing situations when his dad's around...

I'm now off to pick up my dad's gift

777,600 seconds and counting

Ish, my mom is hogging the t.v.
At the moment Queer Eye For the Straight Guy is on...Itsorait lah, but i'm bored with it.
Crap.
I've got slightly more than a week to go, before i'm going back to Penang... I get depressed everytime i think about it. Penang's great, but its not home. Its not the same.
I"ll be going back to another cycle of uni and my LDR and all that jazz...So tiring and its torture just thinking about it....sadness

*think happy thoughts*

The TLC choir went to Melaka today, hope they did well- and got the narration down fine. Thier last performance i heard had alotta unfortunate missed lines. Most will be staying over, but Mr. Beautiful is coming back, to help me with my shopping, he's the master shopaholic... Friday i helped paint the huge HOPE backdrop, and it is covered in silver glitter- *sparkly sparkly!* Of course the glitter got everywhere as well, as glitter always does.
I wonder how glitter is made...And if the factory workers go back everyday all glittery...

Today went to Sunway's Open Day to support Daniel's bottle checking contraption...That was okay, i'm impressed with the projects- seems so very complicated. Went One U after, got some things, but still for my family i cant figure out what to buy...

I'm tired, i'm going to bed...The highlight of the day would be when i saw this book in MPH entitled the Extraordinary Pig...Hilarious la, if it wasn't so not worth the price i'd get it.

Kay, thinking happy thoughts didnt work...
The clock is ticking...my time here is running out.
9days x 24 = 216hours
216 x 60 = 12,960minutes
12,960 x 60 = 777,600seconds

:(

(Yes, a calculator was used, not done by my own mental calculations...)

Uptown Girl

*yawn*
had not enough of sleep, own fault so i have no right to whine..
but it was worth it- its not often you spend the night laughing ur head off at total nonsense, literally rolling on the floor laughing with someone you can just be yourself with

I went to Uptown night market yesterday, with Firdaus (he was helping me not get ripped off)
We stopped at this stall, and while looking through the stuff, the stall dude said to Daus:

"Eh- dia ni mat salleh betul ke ?"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I was JUST next to him and he said it so bluntly thinking i dunno Malay...So i answered back la:

"Bukan" *grin* "separuh je- mak dari Scotland, bapa Cina"

The guy looked 1.Stunned 2.SO embarrassed, really really malu man...
Which is good la, at least he knows how to be...BUt i was so amused, and Firdaus (upon leaving the stall) started laughing, of course i joined in...it was really funny.

I'm used to it though, get it most of the time...It just HOW it happens that sometimes makes it not funny or amusing...when its said in a, not-so-nice manner. Yeap, there's loads of rude people out there, thankfully i've learnt how to handle them with a smile.

For dinner, at bout 2am we ate Ramli burger...the bestest Ramli burger i've tasted to date, its DARN GOOD !!!! THe dude's stall is called Zam's BUrger and its just next to Bee Fatt in Uptown, seriously, he makes damn good stuff.. After we got our burger special (he can crack the egg open and make it into a perfect circle) we sat on a ledge at the kaki-lima and munched, no wolfed it down.... *mouth watering*

I was happy about what Firdaus said, he said he was glad i was his friend and that i am me; many other girls would never sit by the side or a road eating Ramli burger.

Wah, i had a warm n fuzzy moment

But its nice to be with buddies la, the ones who just keep things simple, no emo blackmail or guilt inducing.

Note: Uptown night market is moving on the 16th of Dec. So if anyone wants to go, better go soon...

More Festive Cheer

I spent about 40minutes trying to stick em lights up...Am quite happy with the results though, looks so festive! You can even see the tree through the window.

For some reson this year i'm really getting into the X'mas mood. Last year i was SO bleh about it, couldn't be bothered at all. Maybe cause i've been away, i now appreciate home more and wanna make it look pretty.

Four hours. Thats how long i was walking around Carrefour with mom.. Saw so many happy people. Happy people can make me feel happy. Bloody heck, bought the lights, 3bucks cheaper than when i bought the set that's on the tree...SAME brand summore, and MORE lights (100 vs. 140) Hurmph.

I've got a fancy 'dress-up' type party the coming Sunday...Thanks Kitty Cat and family for the invite! Sigh, sadly i'm faced with 2 problems:



1.No dress yet
2.Been eating SO much since i came back- so you know lah...

Muahaha, Samuel has joined the old Farts Club...He turned 20 on Saturday.
OLD SQUAT!
On an unrelated topic, my mom just told me our X'mas tree is 18 (!!!) years old...Wow!

Time flies

Imagine

I think i've just had one of the most unproductive days to date...

Worst thing is there's no food left in the house, so i cant even just sit and snacl/pig out...i think i went back to the fridge about 10 times, knowing it was empty, but still hoping i somehow overlooked something... =p Latest discovery, there was some starfruits- yay!

Being SO free (bad,bad thing) my mind started thinking all kind of things. I dunno why, but i'm a person who dwells on things that needn't be dwelled on. Have had deep talks with pals recently, on 2 particular issues, and its been on my mind almost constantly. I have my own stand on things, but when people gimme their opinions and thoughts, i start questioning and counter-questioning. Ultimately i usually end up right where i started but still, susah man.
Hate it cause i then doubt myself, my life, my surroundings, my friends...

I'm an optimistic pessimist, i dream and believe that the world is not an ugly place, and that everyone has a special goodness in them...but i do know bad things happen, the world is crap and people can really suck. I think about the world, and i thin about my own being. Deep down, i worry about life,my relationships and if i'm just another evil person walking on this big ball.

I've been called idealistic by several people, and yeah i think i am.
I still honestly hope and wish and dream and pray for world peace
Am i being stupid? Perhaps...

Today on tv was a Tribute to John Lennon.

Imagine

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...

Imagine there's no countries,
It isnt hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...

Imagine no possesions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say Im a dreamer,
but I'm not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

Things can be so simple.

Yes, i'm a dreamer...

The tree is up...

I love the little stable...
Although its the romanticised version, i dont care...

These two items have been around for as long as i can remember...I cant recall a single Xmas without this exact tree and the baby Jesus

Gonna watch Julius Caesar later, at the cool new KLPac...Colin Gordon Kirton is in it, so will be fun to watch former RBS principle* dressed in bedsheets... Here's a pic of him that i took before... Handsome leh...

Mysterious Postcard...

I got a postcard today, and i'm totally baffled...Have been trying to figure out who sent it but still cant think of anyone...Sent from London on the 29th of November. Cant recognize the writing, cant read the signature, and dunno who i gave my house add to.

Its a mystery...

Tis the season to be jolly....

I baked today. Well, fake baking actually, just put all the ingredients together and put em in the bread maker...
Me being itchy fingers wanted more than just normal, white bread- so i added raisins...
But i was so nervous cause the dough didnt look anything like when my mom did it the last time, and i kept going back to peep into it every 5mins to see how it was doing...

Thoughts that were going through my mind:
~Dough was too wet looking
~It wasn't gonna rise enough
~The raisins will cause havoc in the dough...
~why didnt i just follow the recipe
~Mom is gonna laugh her head off at me..

BUT

cheng cheng cheng

It turned out well, not wonderful or glorious but just nice.
Cut myself a slice, spread butter on it while it was still warm so it melted in, and had a cuppa tea...
I'm so content

Except that i've just discovered my X'mas tree lights are spoilt (cannot for the life of me understand HOW it ALWAYS happens...We only use them ONCE a year, and then pack em away...The lights have an 11 month holiday, what could possible make them not work...Grrr! Lazy bums...)

Falalalala..lala..la...LAAAAAAAA!!!!

en.ZYME

National Conference 2005 : en.ZYME

Now that I’m back, and have had time to re-adjust to reality, I can finally blog.

In one sentence NC is People
LOADS of people - 450 in total
LOADS of diff backgrounds - 44 tribes (uni's and colleges)
LOADS of diff denominations - everything also ada la

I don't quite know how to describe the whole thing. To be honest, by the 4th day I was ready to go home. There's just something about being with SO many people, that’s there's little point in meeting those you know you wont even see again rest of the camp. Most starting conversations go like this: "Hi, I'm Shelby, you are? Which Uni are you from? Where are you from?" that’s the same formula used about 30 times the past week.

Our theme talks were on the book of Joshua, and I feel it wasn't really Joshua that was being discussed, but the speaker would jump to his own stories to tell, amusing and funny ,yes, but I still felt he should've focused more on the topic. Can't say I gained much from them.

plenary: (of a meeting at a conference or assembly) to be attended by all participants
First one on Identity and racism. It was pretty good...I hope it slapped some people in the faces and made them realise that even the smallest of actions can speak loads. Since the conference was like, 90% Chinese, the speaker was saying how in Uni's all the Chinese speaking students will clump together and speak only Chinese. So true... Everyone knows B.M, so why don’t we use it? He also brought up how we should be proud of our country, we as MALAYSIANs, not Chinese, Indian, Malay and Lain-lain.

Second one was WAY off topic...Before it started, USM was supposed to do an intro sketch of the topic. It was about Building Up and Dispersing, how many students from small towns go to bigger cities to study, and end up not wanting to return to rural areas, how Christians should take up the challenge to do so. So anyways, I was part of it, shaking there on stage in front of 400+ people...Worst of all, squatto Chris called me an ang mo on stage, so now most people think I am one...tsk tsk...terrible-I’ve still not forgiven him. It went alright I guess, but the speaker was talking about politics and what not, so it made our sketch seem off.

Last was the best, I thoroughly enjoyed the topic and speaker, about Islamization. He said, by Wawasan 2020 if things keep going the same, M'sias population will be 85% Muslim. That stunned me. He said that most people don’t think long term, don’t look far enough into the future...He jokingly and seriously said "Guys, go and get married; girls, don’t be so picky" ; Be fruitful and multiply... =p Organized, on time and very informative- he was the best speaker of the lot.

Fun stuff that happened? Games were pretty fun, though the typical simple games...Was enjoyable. Learnt to play bridge, darn exciting man...NOT an old people's game. Outta the 450, not many cute guys to look at, only about 10 max... ;p

On the last night, I was surprised when all the lights went off and staff started passing out glow-sticks, we sang the camp theme song and some worship songs...I mean, huh?!? Sorry la, but it seemed more like a Jay Chow concert than a time of worship. Then a few glow-stick balls were thrown around the hall...I told Sam that it just took all the seriousness outta worship.

Summary: It was okay-la... I didn't gain much from the talks, I didn’t make that many friends and my spiritual life is not like, pumped up or whatever. But it has made me think more, bout Christianity and denominations and worship etc.

Also, watched the Canticle Singers on Sat night with Jon and Rudi. It was not that good, forgettable performance. After, we had dinner and desert (A&W waffle, yum!) during which a slightly heated discussion about TLC and other churches came about...i hated it, but what to do...its an issue that many Brethren talk about and I think its darn stupid. Especially since neither party knows fully what’s going on or why leaders have chosen to make certain decisions.

So it wasn't the bestest of endings to a fun day.

Now, i'm sick (flu) pretty bad la, didn't go to church yesterday and had to pull outta narrating for choir. My voice is totally gone case.. Water is what i'm super lacking, my own fault.
*sniff sniff*