Happy Birthday Ah Bel....

Leaving the mess in the kitchen, i feel like leaving you a birthday note here. The main reason is because i have been late in getting you a card and present this time! Hence, i got to write it here.

Happy Birthday Isabel. I hope that you will be joyous and happy on your birthday and everyday after that. Wish upon a star and i hope that they will come true. I also hope that your warm smile will always stay on your face, your beauty to be everlasting and your unconfined love to continue growing.

I can't express enough how fortunate and glad for me to meet and get to know you here in newfoundland, a land of nothing (i know i exaggerated!). You provide the warm glow in this land that has endless winter. You are the best listener that i have ever known. It is always me who is doing the talking while you are always the receiving end who will just listen, never given any negative thoughts or getting mad at me. With such a gentle and humble personality, you are ever so encouraging and supportive. Believe me that i have learned a lot from you. I am going to miss hanging out with you anytime that i wish to disturb you. Your house has been a great place for me to grab a bite at anytime (which always turn out to be a real treat all the time). Your forever welcoming couch was a bunk where i can fall asleep without worries (aside from the one in my house). Your phone line was hogged up because i was always asking silly questions or talking nonsense endlessly. With you leaving newfoundland soon....there goes a cooking that i will be craving for, a hanging out spot that will be a place of the past and someone who always seem hidden and quiet but is actually so paramount, will be missed indefinitely.

You are like a big sister to me that i have always wished for when i was young. I seriously felt so. Just want to let you know that i love you (and sean) very much. Thank you.

I really got to stop here, otherwise i will be looking very puffy tomorrow at work!



(-_-,)***hope you enjoyed that surprise party!

Preference?

Racist or racial preference? I do wonder what's the answer. You are single chinese girl, being introduced to a cute caucasian man, what would you do? Yesterday night was a really tiring night after not having any sleep at all being on call for 24 hours. Then had to do some "paperwork" at home before heading out to a lovely bachelorette party. That really drained off my energy. I wasn't even in the sane mind to think if i should try to get know that attractive man! With 48 hours of no sleep, i don't think it's tough to choose between staying at the Martini bar or go home to the comfy bed!

ok....i am doing some real work now.....no time to explain too much. Will do it in the next post!


(-_-)***i fell asleep while i was on the phone!

Good old tuition times

For SPM (a high school graduation exam) preparation, i used to have multiple tuition classes. Group and individual sessions. It will not be fair if Mr.Poon is not mentioned in this subject! He was the teacher who had given excellent guidance in most of my science and mathematic subjects. He was then introduced to my fellow classmates. If only he was our school teacher, then we could have all learn together! On an unrelated note, I really have to pick on our "honorable" physics teacher who was using (er.... probably from collection written during Britain revolution!) english physics book needing PP to translate it into malay all the time! nuff saif, ok...back to tuition time!

Then comes those group sessions. My favorite was biology tuition taught by Puan Mimie. I wonder if i have previously blogged in detail how she had influence my career path. Needless to say, she was the person who piqued my interest in medicine during high school. She would drive an old standard transmission car (without air-cond) to pick michelle and i from LRT station or my house to her house where we had our tuition sessions. Having said that, she does own a mercedes at home but i guess both of us weren't her VIP! Michelle and i would have a feast at her house, wondering if we are paying more attention to food or to those biology topics!! haha! It's either the cheap "economic rice" (it rice with dishes) or pastries from King's confectionery (well, my fav is definitely the japanese flat pastries...not so sure about the ikan bilis aka anchovies) bun; No, i don't have delusion or amnesia!!! If we are without food, Pn Mimie will cook us something (i think!). The most exotic and unforgettable dish was durian porridge. Oh my!!! I totally agree that durian is best eaten fresh from it's shell! I only had er....2 or 3 half-spoonful of them!

My next fav is the Malay tuition classes! It was held at ry's place. "Nanny" joyce was the other person in this gang. I still recall that there was one day where i actually walked for one hour under the hot glaring sun from my house to ry's. I was sick when i reached her place. Well, the diagnosis is simple....heat stroke! Anyway, i don't know why i am thinking of food again after reminiscing those fun times during the malay classes. This time, it's fried chicken and i still remember that ry never uses her ketchup but since i was eating at her place, it didn't take long for the ketchup to disappear! Somebody was drinking it! It was a lot of laughter and crazy jokes with nanny joyce around! Actually, i can't really remember what we learned in that class...writing karangan (essay)???

I also heard others experience, most notable one is the Mr.Poon's group tuition with the bunch of girls prefect (am i right?). All i heard was someone is always late, well, there must be someone who's still sleeping when Mr.Poon came knocking on the door at 11am!!??? Casa ria anybody?? hehe!!



(-_-)***ampang king's confectionery, are you still there?
.....Addendum.....apparently it's still there, somebody (ok...2 bodies! haha!) passed by it but did not stop by!

Wedding planning

Have been listening to my roommate's ranting on her wedding planning. There are so much to deal with when one (well, the couple) is planning for this great day. It is taxing and difficult.

Firstly, there are great details to think about. From the type of wedding, wedding theme (from it's venue, menu, flowers to the grand little wedding cake), the utmost important wedding gown, matching bridesmaid dresses and the who-to-invite list. There are more but these are probably some of the few things that go into the first-to-do list.

Then, one (the soon-to-be- bride) got to handle the stress of dealing with people. This is probably the most enervating part! That include the soon-to-be-husband and his in laws, even her own parents and last but not least, her close friend! Why do parents and in-laws always want to have say in the wedding planning of their children? My friend has a dream wedding but now has to resort to just having it at a chinese restaurant to please the palate of the elderly. She has to forget her plan for a wedding in a museum where she had lots of good memories with him. Is there fun in planning a wedding anymore when this happens?

I still think yein was really gritty when she was facing problems in her wedding plan. Well, i don't think it's wrong to have few wedding parties - masterminded one at the place of her dream preference and granted two more into the hands of the her parents and in laws. To have 3 wedding dinners was exhausting and time consuming. Most are not willing to deal with this kind of stress and likely not having the advantage of such financial leeway.

Hope that things will be better for my roomie!

What about being the groom-to-be who's planning for a wedding? From my friend's experience, he has to deal with the fact that his bride-to-be, who have agreed to his proposal, might not be at the wedding altar. IMO, this is a bigger headache.

Wedding planning is a difficult task. It is a real test of character, patience and intelligence. It is also a really important time for couple's self-realization and to develop further understanding and tolerance. It will be both happiness and satisfaction worthy of all the effort at the end of the day.



(-_-)***on a side note, it is a joy when you are told that you will be given the maid-of-honor title without needing to carry the duties of a maid (although the prerequisite is to have small eyes!)

Coffee-chat time again

Oh my, i really can't wait for my obsession towards Malaysian politics to subside/end.

There is so much excitement and joy reading news surrounding the changes in Malaysian politics. The unpredictable do bring joy (i do realise that uncertainty brings fear)

March 8 has passed and history has been created. Now, another important date is the coming April 15, 2008. The "resurrection" of Anwar (DSAI)! Less than 4 more weeks. Who will step down and who will "jump ship"?

This is a rather funny post!
http://www.chanlilian.net/2008/03/21/another-beh-tahan-political-rant/


(-_-)***where's the true reformation

New Cabinet line-up

I can't help but i really need to blog about my disappointment after reading the "new" line-up of Malaysia' cabinet. What a waste of resource again. Apparently, it's trimmed off from previous cabinet but the overall number of minister & deputies (and special ministers) are actually about the same!

I really wonder who AB consulted when he picked those candidates for their respective positions. I do understand that we will never feel satisfied with the final line-up, no matter how many times he reshuffles. These might be the few reasons:

1) AB has no intentions to reform the government (giving empty promises, yet again...)
2) AB, himself has no insight or clue in current affairs and the abilities of his minsters. (well, his favorite past time is sleeping anyway, not reading!)
3) The party has too many members with low qualification (all talk, no substance)
4) AB is an opposition fan (a point stolen from somebody!!) trying to create a weak cabinet so that they can finally loose in the 13th GE and surrender the government to the opposition.


(-_-)***if BN MPs continue to play truant in Parliament, the opposition benches will be able to make laws!!!!

Exciting! Oh......May "what"??? i forgot!

I can't help but i have been getting the sense of joy when reading all the possible changes in Malaysia. It is truly a victory. A great history for our future generations and also for ourselves! It's a feeling that is so unique in a way, straight from my heart. We have people who seems to be of our generation in the government now. They represent a new wave govern by a form of substantial complex energy.

My favorite quote is from my mother who voted for the first time in her life despite being a registered voter since 1980s. "I just crossed for PAS and DAP, regardless of their religion and racial preference". This again showed that Malaysians are united in their quest for a better non-racist government.

I hope BN will not use May 13 in their propaganda anymore because history did not repeat itself into March 9! I will continue to pray and have faith that a change for the better is on its way.


(-_-) --> (^ ^) ....i am just glad. I have never been prouder.

Brainstorming vs BS

I really don't understand how i could have talked so much for the past weeks (too). I guess it's the fact that i do think a lot. I think i am a deep thinker. Just that I don't keep it to myself everything that come across my mind, I translate it into a daily round the clock chatting. Sounds about right in terms of sufficient justification of a habit that i recently acquired or something that i picked up again after not chatting like this since starting residency! Also, should i shift some blame to my partner in crime???

Enough of my babbling. It's time to go back to work again tomorrow. Honestly, I am not dreading it. In a way, I do wonder if i am actually glad to go back to work. Do you think i am capable of becoming someone whose job description is "of somewhat like a rich housewife" if i win a million dollar lottery? You know, that means my job scope will include sleeping until almost noon, waking up to a prepared breakfast,getting hair done by stylist along with manicure and pedicure, shopping till dawn, getting a massage whenever i like it and being on the phone at any time. The list can certainly go on. By the way, it does sound hectic!


(-_-)***back to reality!

Provincial Nominee of N....

I went for an interview that will expedite my application for permanent residency in canada. If provincial nomination is given, it'll be a matter of months before i'd be granted a PR status. I was given a hard time. Not because the immigration officers that carried out the interview were intimidating. They were genuinely nice person like a lot of newfoundlanders. That's why as much as i hate living in this small city, i am growing to love the place and the people. It's a love-hate relationship. I am too much of a city girl to be grounded in this small city, i can't even picture a smaller town! I won't say work is my only solace as my social network is certainly building up nicely here. How i hope it will stay this way but people are bound to leave and hopefully i can meet new wonderful people (not that the new ones can replace those who are gone). Ok, back to my original woes, it was a hard time because those questions are my dilemmas. I was forced into self-reflections and answer for the best of my interest. I wont say i lied but it's as good as i can relate it to my life now.

What are you going to answer if you were asked
1) You seems like a worldly person. Can you live in a place where you are away from luxury such as unlimited shopping, luxurious dining place or just about the city life (not to say those are materialistic things)? (How did they pick that personality of mine so well only after few questions!!!??)
I don't think they matters. It's a bonus if they are available. I can always fly out to NY or Toronto to shop. (One of the immigration officers stopped me and said, you know if you are in Toronto, you dont need to fly). *paused* I think my work is almost my life, where i spent 90 hours a week working, i barely have time to do something else, don't even mention shopping, most of my clothes that i bought are not worn because i am in scrubs daily!

2) You seems to be comparing health care systems in these few countries that you have mentioned. Do you have any plans to go home to help improve the health care system in your country after you have the expertise?
It's unfortunate that the health care system in Malaysia has such big variation in its standard. The health care in Canada is a system where things are monitored and standardised. Change for the better can be carried out with less restrictions. I would like to help to improve the msian health care system but i am not foolish enough to go home thinking that i can do this alone. I would want a stable career and family, everything settled down nicely before thinking of helping with things in Msia. The problem in Msia health care system is complicated. There is no quick fix. However, I wouldn't say that i would not participate in any collaborations that is possible between Canada and Msia in the near future if it can benefit Msia.

I do have a different set of answers for questions above that will be my true answers but i am no nelson mandela or aung san suk kyi. I am just another msian who learned that grass is greener on this side of the world.


(-_-)***there will never be a place where we can be as free as a bird...it's all too difficult

The birth of two entrepreneurs?

mich in KL says:
thinking which kind of business to venture...retail or back end stuff?
mcfan..filing taxes says:
not sure
mcfan..filing taxes says:
anything that can earn money
mcfan..filing taxes says:
well, interest do come first
mcfan..filing taxes says:
hahaha
mcfan..filing taxes says:
as long as the earning rate is higher than the expenditure.....
mich in KL says:
i think i prefer retail
mich in KL says:
meet with more people
mcfan..filing taxes says:
icic
mich in KL says:
image consulting agency?
mich in KL says:
haha...
mcfan..filing taxes says:
i think that's pretty important
mcfan..filing taxes says:
quite a good idea
mcfan..filing taxes says:
cos there must be ppl who will be interested in paying to learn how to dress up and act...CY (my college's friend) and her sis did go for similar classes
mich in KL says:
needs expertise
mcfan..filing taxes says:
you are right
mcfan..filing taxes says:
a cosmetic/beautician, fashion expert, stylist
mcfan..filing taxes says:
quite a big group
mich in KL says:
yeah...scrap that idea...where to find so many people
mich in KL says:
haha...
mich in KL says:
if only you become a cosmetic surgeon...then we can be different than any other agency
mich in KL says:
then i can get my cousin brother to do the photography part, he does filming though
mich in KL says:
styling part - we can pretend we are good
mich in KL says:
hair styling - must recruit from saloon...can contract one
mich in KL says:
make up artist, i will go brush up and finish my course
mcfan..filing taxes says:
hahahahahhaha
mich in KL says:
otherwise can contract one also
mich in KL says:
costumes can get from KS's shop
mich in KL says:
haha...
mcfan..filing taxes says:
well, YH (in a neighboring island) had thoughts of becoming a plastic surgeon....if u can convince him to be one
mich in KL says:
look, my agency is all ready
mich in KL says:
i cannot have a non-stylish surgeon in my agency
mich in KL says:
*head dropping into a pile of papers* silently protesting the idea!
mcfan..filing taxes says:
hahahha...then u can use YH as "raw billboard" (sang chiu pai)
mcfan..filing taxes says:
that's our selling point
mcfan..filing taxes says:
we create interest even in those who do not possess an interest in beautifying themselves
mich in KL says:
i simply can't
mich in KL says:
we cannot style someone who do not want to be styled
mich in KL says:
he has to have the desire first
mich in KL says:
he carries and uses umbrella
mich in KL says:
we don't
mcfan..filing taxes says:
hahahahhahahhahahah



(-_-)***maybe i can retire earlier if i am an entrepreneur!

Disclaimer: this dialogue is purely fictional. It's a creation by people with some extra brain juice at tea time. However, if you do come across such agency of similarly voiced calibre, i advise you to give it a try as that's how dream is achieved!

Vacation- Leaf 2

It's been 4 years since i last celebrated CNY with my family. I was involved in the rather routine CNY preparation house cleaning, ensuring that all rough corners in the house are mend, buying home deco, getting stocked up with CNY food and buying clothes for CNY (i have to buy regardless, because i don't have anything to wear with one of my luggage went missing in my journey back to Malaysia).

On the New Year's eve, finally got back to Seremban to meet with my grandma and my paternal family members. It's always a joy to meet with them and to be able to indulge in home-cooked food by my aunts - reunion lunch. I miss my grandma! I was also able to meet with my primary school teacher. I actually got in touch with her 2 days prior my trip back to Seremban. She was very eager to meet up. There were weird feelings seeing her again after so many years. She was my primary school year 1 & 2 class teacher. Someone who brought me out for picnics and church activities and that made my dad barred me from going out with her anymore, afraid that i will embrace another religion. It was a good meeting though.

After reunion dinner, i actually went out for yet another karaoke session with mich and her sis to celebrate her birthday. Something that I had really looked forward to. I think the last time that I was able to do so was during A-levels time. (ok....counting...) It's almost ten years already!!???

To be able to join my family on the usual first CNY day visit to old folks home (it's been done for years) to give out angpau is like a visit back to the old memories. Funny but it's true. 4-year hiatus is too long. That made me feel wanting to be in Malaysia for every CNY. However, next year will be impossible with an important exam on the table. Will certainly work on that for the year of tiger! Going back to Penang was certainly another highlight. I have always love to visit my maternal family and it would be a lie to say that food isn't one of the main reasons. Eat is the only verb that is a must in Penang. (^ ^)

I also had 2 sessions of Javanese massage in the hotel where i stayed! And that gave me the idea to a little surprise gift to someone was complaining about shoulder/back pain after sleep!

It was a great second week home.


(-_-)***home sweet home

Jet lagging

Never been jet lagging to this extent. I supposed it's self-imposed. The stress hormones have been extremely high as i do realise that i have a lot that i wish to achieve in this leftover research break, couple with other factors such as increasing homesick blues, preparation to go back to work (knowing my aims) and also this coming general elections in malaysia.

Homesickness is really getting to my nerves. I miss my family and friends, those good and fun times. All the news of upcoming general elections is not helping at all. I hate to feel that I am helpless. A lot of frustration reading on all lies with no job done. Enough of ranting on this issue.

I hope, after this one more week of research break, by getting back into the real world where life as a busy general surgery resident will get me back on track. I hope that i can translate all my frustration as a helpless malaysian into a form of energy that will benefit my sick patients. In my work, I am more inspired and enlightened


(-_-)***i dont feel good

Malaysia's 12th General Election

No matter where i land in the future, i know i am always a malaysian. There'll never be country where i would be as sentimental whenever i discuss issues surrounding it. However, now given a choice to live in a country where it's leaps and bounds better than my motherland, i am in the grey zone. It actually hurts to know that this is the truth.

What i am facing now is faced by all malaysians abroad because we love our country but it has continuously ignore our welfare. Who is the one funding my training which cost up to RM350,000 annually now? The current government is only there because they care only for themselves, work only for their personal wealth. Development was still presence when Mahathir was the premier (although corruption was existence, being a smart man who wish to "protect" his name, he kept it relatively well covered!), since 5 years ago, things have gone into the drain. The country still kept going because of efforts from the past. If i can diagnose the endemic disease in the malaysian government, it would be delusion secondary to monetary gain with schizophrenic traits because it has been causing chaos in human lives. They like to think that they have achieved things that is not even within reach.

Fighting for corruption was one of the major promises made in the last election. I have not seen nor heard of any improvement, it's considered good if it has not worsen. Police will take even RM 20 for a traffic crime. Shameless act?!!! It's a major problem when the law enforcement officers are doing it blatantly turning it into a habit and is considered acceptable. We all know that there are no easy way to solve this. Corruption exists at all levels. Take a look at the police force. I, personally sympathize them as their welfare are not well taken care of, hence, we poor citizens are being the end-receiver of it. For example, the accommodation provided by the government to these police officers is a laughing joke. Low cost one room apartment is all they build for these civil servants who are supposed to risk their lives during their duties. How can their family live comfortably? Putrajaya on the other hand is a posh city built using enormous public funds (well, do not forget that we are also subjected to corruption tax for everything we build in malaysia aside from GST! ) for those politicians who sit in their big office not giving effort to build or steer malaysia to greater heights.

Our current PM, AB, is always out of the country especially when there is a disaster. He never knows what's going on (well, or he is just a good actor!). Now, you can see pictures of him shaking hands with commoners to make his presence felt. He has never been present during bad times. But he knows that Malaysians will not gamble in voting for the oppositions because humans are afraid of change. Humans are lazy to make change until it is starting to cut their throats. Should we wait until that happens before we decide to fight? I have to agree that our current oppositions front has not matured into a team that can lead the country. However, all we need is to bring more opposition into the parliment in order to show BN that the citizens are asking for better performance!!!!!!

I don't think PAS-PKR-DAP will win this election .You can see it this way, they will not make Malaysia a worse country simply because we are already in grave position, nothing can be worse than current crop of leaders. If you spend time listening to oppositions front, you can feel better that they are working with malaysian welfare in their mind. They are eager to prove that they can do a better job than their BN counterpart. Why don't give them a chance? Well, listen to parlimentary debate, you will know that our current bunch of ministers are underperformed, immature, irresponsible and clueless.....OR, they are just lazy and corrupted with wasted intelligence.
Links:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXUNRQMIUqM&feature=related
(MY FAV - alternatively, search youtube for Parlimen Malaysia - Rafidah's Rare Appearence in Parliament)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjRZKFp_JcU
(alternatively, search youtube for Kit Siang asked for "Zero Negligence")
It upsets me everytime i watch videos above, i could hear my heart being crushed into pieces witnessing our zero-substanced ministers defending those issues brought up by the oppositions by beating around the bush.

I don't watch CNN nor BBC nor Al-Jazeera for news in Malaysia. I read malaysiakini, jeff ooi blog, malaysia today and also the mainstream newspapers. They are written by malaysians. Our RTM is being branded as RT-BN (radio tv-barisan nasional). They are so unfair in giving coverage to people involve in this election, they have never given the oppositions a fair broadcasting time to discuss their agenda, oppositions have always been alienated. Please look at Obama and Hilliary Clinton, these are the debates that will test the knowledge and intelligence of our leaders.

I have failed in my duty as a Malaysian because it's near impossible for me to register and vote being away in this foreign land. For those who still can, please go to the nearest post office today and figure it out. Elections is on March 8 which is only a week away. It's a five year long administration nightmare if the government is not going to work on it's weakness now, we will pay the price with things that are important to us.....national security (meaning having an environment where our family members can feel safe), economic growth (maintaining earning capacity, ensuring job opportunities; in this era of globalisation, we are far from prepared to enter the battle), social welfare (educational system, racial unity- it's bloody shitty when our political parties are still racial based).

I know I sound bias towards the opposition, to be fair, there must be someone who is carrying out their job. However, just merely doing ok is not enough. Even that, not all are doing enough. I know it's tough but civil servants performance wasn't like this before in the past. This the fruit from the seeds that weren't planted correctly from the beginning. We need a leader who is constantly critical of his own performance. We need someone who can set good example. MPs are people who are voted by the people to work for the country, someone who should sacrifice for their country. It's not a job for people who are looking for comfortable high ranking positions. Having said that, i do realise that some chosen BN MPs are hardworking, righteous person but that doesn't bring them anywhere. They will not be chosen to represent BN again if they ever voice against BN interest in any issue during their tenure. AND the Malaysian Constitution has been amended some 690 times in 50 years. The USA has been in existence for more than 200 years and their constitution was only amended 27 times (source SV SIngam). How's that?

I guess at the end of the day, the biggest question is CAN WE TRUST THE OPPOSITION IF NOT BN?

Enough said! Thirsty now!


(-_-)***i am sorry that i am not voting. how i wish i can. I was blinded into supporting Dr.Mahathir since my school days, i don't even know if i'll smile to him or shake his hands acknowledging him if we do meet in the future.