here comes 15Malaysia.....

The joy of meeting up another Malaysian.....

I got call from Belinda yesterday, she's asking for some assistant in moving her new house. As a pure Malaysian, who “bantu –membantu*” (helping each other) I immediately agree on the call. I was excited as well, I never did go to any American housing area before, I sure wouldn’t want to miss this opportunity!!!

I know going there alone wouldn’t be a nice option, I have to get the rest of my U-grader to help me out this time. As usual, they agreed upon request (actually, none of us were doing anything during that time). Luka and Danilo was the 1^st to say yes, Maria overslept this morning.

Belinda came in very early that day, around 10am, I was excited to have seen Belinda driving us in her new 2009 edition Toyota Camry. (I was still confused with the left hand seating, I end up heading to the driver seat, which is where the front seat usually is). I was amazed by the neighborhood, it was a cozy and lovely area, with all-American household and lot’s of Asian too. But, i was being excited too early, it was a big diffrent from where she is moving to.

This is how her present house looks like.

This is how her future house looks like.

Most American house has a centralize ventilation and air-conditioning. Which I find it quite convenient, the use of centralize system makes the interior more comfortable and cozy. At winter time, all they need to do is switch on the heater, and the whole house will be warm at certain temperature. Besides that, I notice the design of houses here are more spacious in terms of separation of dining room and kitchen, doing that actually gives the house more of a structure and organize area.

Having said that, their house comes with a high definition glass door to prevent bad weather, and snow storm, they actually comes with an attic in the garage section for storage purpose which I find it very practical.

This is some housing area i found it very nice

We met Belinda's son and husband, they were super nice ! i really felt like at home already, Belinda was talking to me in Hokkien which i regrettably don’t understand a word of it, we end up speaking English, it was all familiar face again seeing them. Especially the unique dialect of MAN-glish !!!

The moving of items was no kidding, we get into work right after arrival, it was exhausting. but the moving was unexpectedly fun, no matter big or small it was not a problem for 3 big guys like us. Danilo was kidding about our new name "International Student of House Moving"

After an exauhsting day, we mange to get into the new house and "explore", here are some picture of showing you how an Interior of American house looks like.

The fire place was not an actual thing, it is an artificial gas stove that looks like a fire place, but it was a very nice place to hang out.

During the moving, we were Burning calories....and Burning, i really meant exercise....

The hard days work was really fullfilling, better than doing nothing at room....

after settling all the moving, Belinda told us of bring us to a nearby Chinese All-U-Can eat buffet, i was happy as usual (but, the buffet word was a bit freaky...) i know i'm gona eat a lot... (and that means gaining calories...)

It was a pure chinese restaurant with lot's of familiar faces. and don't forget about the food.....crab legs, mongolian stir fry, seafood donut, etc....

Now i'm feeling guilty as i typed......but, nevertheless, all this comes to my appreacition to belinda and her family....i can't belive i can eat my 2nd chinese food in my 2nd week....

This is the pic i took with her family, the 1st pic at the right is Belinda, and the last pic is showing Luka how happy he is with the seafood donut....he's being a bit addicted with chinese food ever since last time....

Meeting a Malaysian here means a lot to me, now I realize how lucky it is to have a “Se-kampung” here, I have some of my international friends here who only can tell us how nice her country here without able to share it with another countryman, I really do hope that I can see more Malaysian here. At least I know now, I’m not the only one here. You will be surprise to have that feeling of meeting another Malaysian in a foreign land.

9 days to go for my country celebration of independence. I will be sitting here at my laptop waiting for that moment to yell Merdeka… =)

p.s. I hope my friends back in M’sia are doing fine. Miss our Mamak time already… and nasi lemak panas…

school starts tomorrow. . .

Well it really is a crazy week, we've been going to lot's of places to eat and spent, now is time for us to bounce back to reality....that school starts tomorrow.

Ugraders like us have been best buddies, we eventually eat + sleep (not really) + play together..... frankly, our group are very diverse , that came from a variety of continent.

down (left to right) - Sergey (Armenia) - Jaime (El Salvador) - María (Panamá)

middle (left to right)- Alan (Malaysia) - Oscar (Honduras) - Danilo (Venezuela) - Zhanat (Kazakhstan) - Huda (Iraq) - Weiwei (China)

up (left to right) - Tien (China) - Eldin (Guatemala) (Roommate) - Luka (Montenegro)

Well, for a bunch of Ugraders like us, we've been quite occupied with lot's of stuff to handle like breifing in internship and comunity service. And most importantly, registeration of clases.

my courses include:

marketing subject :

PROMOTIONAL STRATEGY

MARKETING EMERGING TECH

american study:

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

health curiculum:

SWIMMING

RACQUETBALL (squash)

The courses in total accumulated a 12 hours credit, which i find it linear. but' i wouldnt judge to early, cuz evryone knows that marketing courses takes lot's of assigment and presentation.

The education system is quite flexible here, because student get to choose wat ever courses they want and desire. like marketing (major) + music (minor). i don't recall having major back in UM, but this system is actually giving student more space of growing, with an option to choose.

One significant diffrence that i realize here, was the responsibility given to the student organization in establishing functional program and intresting activities for student to join. the student involment in any fraternities is very flexible, as long as it attracts the intrest of student. like a foam party i went yesterday...it was cool...but not really my stuff...

the next day, we attended UAH very own convo ceremony for their freshman, it was a very happening event, it marks the arrival of new student to UAH, and their arrival marks from the speeches from the president of UAH and the greetings from all the faculty member...all of them were wearing nice looking "jubah" and "sent" the student "in" instead of out, by forming 2 lines and let the freshman to cross over them in between...quite of a privilledge.

after seeing them how they welcome their student into the university, i really felt that M'sia should have this kind of stuff. It makes the student here such an honour to have enter this very university. and i do felt the atmosphere....

In huntsville, the place are so spread out, you can't go anywhere without a means of transportation, people usually make use of thier cars and travel around here. exchange student like us, might be the only one here with our No.11 bus (walking with our feet), we did'nt manage to get a bike here, as it was all taken upon our request....we are now officially walking through out the whole semester. and for that, i hope i can loose wight....

Neverthless, people here are very friendly and helpfull. you can get automatic assistence from any strangers around you, and they are more than happy to be there for you. i find that very nice.

well....a few hours to go for my classs...by the way, my 1st classtomorow is swimming..it starts at 6am...and i have to wakeup at 5am....sigh...

this is a pic. we took from the bridge out side our campus. =) nice !

Godzilla has landed on US soil.....

This post was uploaded during my 3rd day here at UAH, seriously, i still can't belive i have landed my self at US...i was craving my Nasi lemak the the 1st day, and then i'm eating chili dogs and fries the next...

OK, guys, bear with me as i go....

My flight schedule starts at malaysia (8.15pm) local time, i have my whole family to accompany me, it was a very touching sight to see all my families and my dearest girl friend "sending" me away, my sister was in tears, my little sister couldnt make it as she's having some school that day...but she did cry the night before....i was very touched..=(

The 1st thing i notice on JAL was this very cute console here right besibe my armrest, it consist of a game controller and a phone all together, and the best thing is u get to swipe your credit card at the sides as soon as u need to phone someone on the plane...cool !

The flight was short, it took me less than an hour to reach singapore, from there. i'm supposed to stay one night at their transit hotel, and get up the next morning.

Terminal 3 singapore was awesome, it was spacious and u get to do lot's of stuff here ! like watching movie free (24-7), a butterfly gardemn (indoor) and free internet usage ! i manage to run around and explore and found out some very intresting things to do. The free movies was my favourite, you can go in and out wenever you like !

Then after the cozy night, comes my big flight ! the flight from singapore - japan was 7hrs ++, frankly, it was tiring, the leg space was super small and during the flight was a repeating:

sleep > wake up > eat > toilet > sleep > wake up > eat > toilet > sleep > wake up > eat > toilet >

During the flight, i talk with this girl who was a singaporean, and she's doing pharmacy over there, and she treat me one of those japanese chocalate...frankly....yummy !!!

the united airline over there took me long hours and i manage to finish all tehir movies already, seriously 80% of the movies i seen it before, so, i was kinda bored out in the middle. My back was in pain, as my buttock never move a muscle.

Then comes the cuper long hours of flight, tokyo to USA (direct) 12hrs++

i thought the 7hrs flight was terible, but the 12hrs was torchering, i was "downgraded" from (economy + ) to (economy) means less leg space, and less moving space.

well, this time i manage to sit with a Korean girl, she's studying PHd at US, so, we talk a lot and manage to sit through the flight, a note for all long distance traveller, always make sure you bring your neck supporter, it helped me so so much during the flight, and don't forget to bring some books...or else you will end up having a butt cramp !!!

FINnaly hours of sleeping and eating and toilet-ing, i manage to wake up to the sunny light of Washington Dulles airport, the airport was super crowded, and i manage to get out of the plane as fast as posible, cuz i know my next plane is coming in 50minutes. but i end up waiting in long Q's at the immigration department, it was devastating to see so many people, and most of us end up mising our flight !

can u imagine watching people from all over the world yelling and screaming in diffrent language !!! it was horror !! but even with my NIKE shoes, i failed to take on my next flight to huntsville, and i had to stay overnight there to wait for my flight the next morning, but THANKS to world learning, i manage to stayed at Holiday Inn, it was a superb hotel with very very big and cozy bed....=)

the next day, i manage to get on the plane and get myself some very nice muffin for breakfast, i purposely skip my FREE breakfast buffet at Holiday Inn just to came here early, but i end up waiting till 11am due to plane maintenence problem. not really a nice experience as a 1st timer to US though...BUT i had to admit ! it's super exciting !

i'm finnaly here at Huntsville University, and it's super hugh....i manage to meet the other 2 Ugraders, there's the girl Zhanat from Kazhakstan and Sergey from Armenia.

Dr. Pottenger helped us a lot on the stuff and enrollment ! and he was the one who came to the airport to fetch me, he was very helpfull !

Anita was also the one over there waiting for me at the flight, i feel so bad when i was unable to tell them my flight was delyed, and they had to wait there for a couple of hours....

Right after my arrival to Huntsville, we were told to go for a ball game at the nearest stadium. This is the 1st baseball game of my life, it was really enjoyable. But i was too exhausted to reaaly get into the game...people were shouting and screaming, and there was some heart lighten scene during every break of the game...nice !

i manage to head back to my dorm and make sure everything is in place, it was very tired, and my eye's were half shut during that afternoon...but did make my room cozy though....

the next day was full of schedule for us as well....but we manage to sneak out of the dorm and get ourselves some fast foods....it was the 1st for us to eat at Taco bells, a kind of mexican food, and very very nice tortilos...like "poh piah" but bigger ...

After attending our orientation that afternoon, we manage to grab a very very nice buffet dinner at one of the Huntsville chinese all-you-can-eat restaurant, i still can't belive that i can eat chinese food the next day !

2009/2010 Global U-gard USA, UAH

All this thanks to World learning and the International office of UAH, they've been very nice and helpfull....Thanks !!!

Here's some nice pic of UAH, got it with my roomates...jog at 5am.....he he, i'm still at M'sia time.

p.s. i miss my frinds and family from M'sia already.....espeacially my girl, hope she's doing alright....=(

Farewell my BCUM frens....

I cant belive i have less than a week to start my packing for clothes that can last for 1 whole year, frankly, i'm kinda freak out a bit. BUT nevertheless, attending my frens gathering remains my main priority.

This time, my always-all-so-comited fren "pik tze" manage to organize a gathering to bid my farewell and a belated birthday party for my dear friend - kok soon.

venue - Neway one utama

time - 11.30 (but late as usual)

although i've been going to lot's of karaoke session with my other friend, i never did went to any of the

seesion during weekened where they serve free buffet, me and pik tze was super hype and happening during that time, "she" devise a (divide and conqure) startegy in order to utilize the remaining time for us to get all-you-can eat buffet salad, YES. u hear it right...SALAD, we mange to get all the salad stuff into our room without knowing that those are not our main course.....kinda embarasing when the waiter came in with a frightfull look...= o

But, at the end of the day, we had lots of fun.....sing our throuts out as usual...and definitely salad all over the place.... all i can sumarize is that:

tony - the most active singer

rachel - the most high pitch singer

su anne - best photographer

jian yu - best vocal singer

tee loon - the best siti nurhaliza impersonator

kok soon - the most funny looking singer

and last but not least

pik tze - the best read lyrics-out-loud singer...bravo ! bravo !

see what i meant when i say the most hype and happening singer ...!!!???

The day didnt end on neway actually, after the karaoke.

we watch harry potter and the half blood prince - 3.50pm

then, we have light dinner at tropicana city - 7.00pm

after that, we attended our junior very own freshman orientation - 8.00pm

Seeing those junior having so much fun reminds me lot's of fond memories.....

I still can't belive it's more than a year already since we met each other in our involvement in"business club university of malaya", i really can't belive that we've been through so so much and acheive such realtionship within the board member....frankly this is not what i expected, it's even better !

i could remember a bunch of us being "told" to go for the selection to biz club UM last time, and end up being involve in tons of activities ...blur blur-ing....

we came from THIS !

to this !

and THEN to this !

our member grow ever since our 1st board, to finally this, frankly the process was hard and tough, i had to admit, acheving lots of new activities and structure never seem to be easy for all to accept, the hard truth came to us when we realize we have so limited resources to acheive so muc....that was really a big challenge for us.

despite the problems we face, we still manage to grow strong in our relationship, our friendship were bonding and the effort we are pouring into the club was indeed showing a healthy growth....BUT, i have to admit myself, i've made some very very uncalculated decision, and most of them lead to a very unhappy ending, that process gave me a chance to learn more about myself, the weakness that i posess. Simply put, i manage to learn and grow through out the years to come.....and it did made a significant impact to who i am now...for that i thank you all =)

during those time we really had fun ! and definitely memorable for all of us.....it's not something you can forget.....

NOW, it all comes down to all my beloved juniors to unfold the new chapter of Business Club, i'm hoping that the new BOD can make much imporvement towards this clubin the coming future.

our junior very own freshman orientation 2009

The board of juniors....who came to support "their" junior

To all my beloved frens:

The 2 years experience we have are truely priceless, for that i'm hopefull that our friendship can grow stronger every single day.

i know all of us are miles apart now, but deep down. i know that we still waiting for that one day to come where each of us can sit down and remind each other how much we miss each other...=)

P.S. i just want to use this opportunity to thank my dear fren here su anne, she manage to gave me a small little farewell card, with touching words in it, frankly, i'm kinda touched when i flip it open ....though it's small in size but i know it's pack with loads of love and care....thnk you suu anne !!!

See, i mange to post a solo pic of your self and me !!!

Dracula's Wanted to be loved too....

I saw this movie, "forgetting sarah marshall" few weeks ago, just can't seem to forget this song.

The song reminds of people how everything has a feeling, sad, joyous, angry.....

Even dracula himself have a feeling too...

p.s. Felt like sharing to you, the last part very touching !

LYRICS:

It's getting kind of hard to believe things are going to get better
I've been drowning too long to believe that the tide's going to turn
And I've been living too hard to believe things are going to get easier now
I'm still trying to shake off the pain of the lessons I've learned

And if I see Van Helsing, I swear to the Lord I will slay him
Ah-ha-ha-ha
He'd take you from me, but I swear, I won't let it be so
Ah-ha-ha-ha
Blood will run down his face when he is decapitated
Ah
His head on my mantle is how I will let this world know, how much I love you

Die, die, die
I can't...

De Javu......

TODAY, marks the enrollment day of malaysia public university. MY sister "luckily"manage to stuck her feet into UTM KL, frankly, we really thought she dont stand a chance to go for the university she applied, but lady luck manage to shine on her at a nick of time, i'm still confuse with the subject {industrial design} though. BUT, i really feel proud for her relentless role for being persistent in going into the university she ask for, for that i wish she can manage to explore fond memories in her 3 years in UTM-KL branch.

LIKE I DID !!!

we reach there around 10am, and the crowd is already there, and from the looks of the parents, seems like everyone is not in H1N1 mood. frankly, it was hot and sweaty. and people were getting grumpy with the long wait.....

her scholl compaund was not as big as i expected, but at least she manage to get her self a campus area.

looks kinda like my secondary school, don't you think ?

should be the building she take her class.

ALL THIS, reminds me of the 1st day when i was in her age, doing degree at UM.....frankly, i still can recall the vivid scene of freshie orientation, the sweat and fond memmories....=)

we were a bunch of very very naive freshie who have no idea what the heck the seniors is in store for us, i can still recall the stupid roar-call we have to make to impress the rest of the other college, that was the 1st time i was being being punish squatting "IN" the longkang for being SLEEPY during the orientation, and heck ! it was 5am in the morning !!!

BUT, overall the orientation did gave me a very significant impact in my university life, i really can assure you. your not going to fulfill your UNI life wothout going through orientation....all i'm hopping now is that my sister get to go through this ALIVE ......=)

in my university years, one thing i really felt fullfilling is actually meeting my friends there, they really made my 3 years university life overthere super exciting, most of us known each other long before university !!!

This is the bunch of FRENZ = CRAZY + EXCITING

the original roomies of (SK 2-5)

OUR group of frinds grew bigger and bigger, and eventually, we bonded well. With every passing minute of your university life, u realize you've just met a bunch of life long buddies...

my philosophy in UNI is :

LEARN TO HAVE FUN !

&

IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO LEARN !

this is the words that kept me doing what i believing, and their existence throgh the process makes me even enjoying !

we've been thorugh more than 3 years of friends, not consider a very long time,

but indeed enjoying !

The start of my sister enrollment in her university brings fond memories we used to have, the good, the bad, the crazy, and the unforgettable. it really is nice to have this buddies around me, and i appreciate their existence beside me. Eventhough, all of us are apart now, i still cherish the ties we've made, and hopefull that this frindship bonds well in our coming future =)

(^-^)