Bienvenue!

Bonjour mes amis..

Je suis desolee.. and I know I've been rather unfaithful in terms of updating this little hobby of mine.

For the record, I've left the previous university, and I while I miss my friends, room mates and the pleasant lecturers there, I still have to say I do enjoy the new environment here.

So far, the only thing evading me is a job =)

Good news for us! My dad has been offered a job. Although it's up on the East Coast, I can't help but feel happy for him. Finally!

and does anybody here keep a LiveJournal aka LJ? It'll be better if we could connect through LJ.

I know this post isn't insightful, but I haven't felt like doing a little delving into something for insight. Next time, maybe. I hope.

Don't worry, it might just be the day after tomorrow.

Au revoir!

A Marathon of Some Sort

Sometimes hope can bring the best things in life...

Greetings everyone!

I am dreadfully sorry to have abandoned my blog for almost two months! It was entirely my fault and I apologise immensely for that.

I have several news I would like to share with all of my dear readers. They will all be explained in chronological order so please bear with me.

It started towards the end of March when my last post was recorded. Back then I was busy filling out forms and such for scholarship and college/university application. Then at the beginning of April, my aunt asked me a favour: I was to help her by filling in the vacant position of clinic attendant while she waited for someone to apply for the job. Needless to say, it wasn't long before one girl did turn up on her doorstep. As it turned out, she was an acquaintance of mine through her mother.

Then a few days after, the results of my matriculation college application came out. I was pleased to find that I was accepted into one of the best matriculation centre in the country. Such an honour! Had I accepted, I would have studied science in matriculation.

However, a few weeks later, I found out that I was accepted into a university quite well-known in the country for a foundation programme in Nursing. To say that I was disappointed would be an understatement as I had applied for a foundation programme in English Language Studies. So, I decided then that I would go through matriculation and work my way to a language degree.

Just a few days after, my dad solved the problem. He himself went to the deputy dean and appealed on my behalf (I was busy that day: I had business with the bank). Suffice to say, she told my father I could change my programme when I register at the university.

Then I found out that I failed the interview for an overseas scholarship from the government. It was then I decided that I would go to the university and pursue my preferred programme there. In the meantime, I have appealed for a reconsideration on my behalf in regards to the government scholarship. It's a win-win situation.

By the way, I have resigned from my position as a primary-level tutor. It was fun, exciting and an incredible experience while it lasted. In learned a lot and it has also taught me to be more patient when dealing with stressful situations.

I have now mastered the art of filling in the bank deposit forms. Another milestone for me! So far, I've managed to open a shares account which I can use to deposit my investment earnings which is relatively safe (yep.. I'm playing it safe).

I have always hoped that I would be able to go to a reputable university, study the courses I want and not having to worry about monetary costs. Just a few years ago, I had rejections after rejections when I applied for admission into boarding schools... mainly due to my socio-economic status. Bollocks. My socio-economic status does not dictate whether I can afford paying for university myself.

While my dad is out looking for a job in the gloomy economic environment, I am looking for ways to save money so that I can be eligible for a study loan just in case I don't get a scholarship in the near future. In that case, I'm praying hard for God to help me in this.

So... before I start to rant endlessly and do a 'woe me... pity my... poor me...' impression, I better end this post.

'When you wish and hope with all the will inside of you, you never know what miracle can be wrought upon you'

C'est cela pour maintenant, le merci et la bonne journée.

Grave News.. In the Most Literal Sense

There's been a death in the opposite house...

Emily Dickinson's famous poem which I have learnt in form five has rung true. At times of terrible tragedy, I have always found myself unconsciously shedding tears.

Yesterday morning, a neighbour of mine faced the death of someone close to them. The wife's aunt died in the morning while the maid was giving her some relief from her aches. She had been aching all over the body, particularly her back and her neck. So, that morning, she asked the maid to help massage her. After barely one minute, she started to list and no sooner, she was unconscious.

I was getting ready for a driving test (which, to my relief, I have passed) when I received a phone call from my aunt, who is also my neighbour telling me the news. While waiting for the instructor to fetch me, I made a brief visit to the mourning family.

I could see that the wife was crying but holding it in, from the way her red eyes looked at me, thanking me for coming by and pay my last respects (al-Fatihah, verses from Yaasin). I saw the corpse, covered by the batik cloth and I cried. The coroner had left while I was entering the compound.

After I got back from the test, I went over to her house and looked after her youngest, her daughter, who cried, begging her mother to take her to see her grandmother's sister laid to rest. The rest of the family had followed the car. Luckily, she was easily cajoled so she watched Playhouse Disney as we waited for her family to come home. She kept asking why her mother was yet to come home so I made a few excuses until her mother finally did arrive.

She was so perceptive for a child her age. For so young a child (she is five), she said her grandmother had died and that she was going to be buried below the earth where grasses grow on top. She said her grandmother was no longer alive, and that all of them are going to pray and perform the solat jenazah. She also said that God loves her grandmother and that he has plans for her -something I had told her earlier and she still understood.

It is in this moment that I honestly say: Death changes us. It may not change everything but one person's thoughts and actions leave ripples in time. God has laid the hands of fate onto us for only God knows what's in store for us. Whatever it is, God has the greater plan and as god's creation on earth, we are created by God and to God we will return.

My fellow sisters and brothers in Islam, let's dedicate an al-Fatihah for this lady who had been called back by God. Amiin.

Starlight, Starbright...

Ah Vous! Derai Je Maman...

The stars are bright tonight...
- Firenze, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone


Yes, I do quote his wisdom. The stars certainly are bright tonight as I gaze upon the night sky of Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

It is unusually bright that I felt moved. My hands suddenly moved towards the mobile phone in my pocket to make a call towards Fauzi, mi amor. He picked up his phone and told me that he was in his car and he's gazing upon the same sky as I was. Well, he said he's not at home as he's the on duty muazzin tomorrow morning so that means he's staying back at the Mujahideen Mosque in Damansara Utama.

At the time of the call, it was 10 p.m. Watched One Tree Hill @ 10.30 p.m. Poor Lucas. Dumped TWICE. Man, that's critical.

Anyway, I'm posting again in rememberance of God's gift tonight in the form of the breathtaking view of the stars tonight. Perfectly aligned to show the sign of Pisces. There were slightly more dim stars flecking the brightest of them, creating an illusion of speckles of dusty grains of sand on the beach. I only wished I could capture the view on camera but the camera could do no justice. Hence, I am typing away to keep this memorable event on black and white...

So, adios mi amigos. You'll hear from me pretty soon.

Major Changes Underway...

When life suddenly sprouts turnips instead of lemons, you know you have to do something about it...

I haven't been a faithful blogger lately. Here's an excuse: the phone line was cut off so no internet connection for almost 3 weeks! Ha! How about that?

Anyway, I received my results. 8As and 2Bs. I cried because of the two Bs. At least, I thanked my teachers right after, whom, in my honest opinion have poured lots of love and knowledge my brain certainly had absorbed through those years.

By the way, I received distinctions in Physics and GCE-O English! Good news for me.

Right now, I'm trying to find relevant courses thathave to do with English Language and Linguistics though I don't mind at all doing Electronic Engineering. However, I am actually looking forward to studying my first choice and also working on a diploma of political science. I am aiming to be a lecturer OR diplomat. Let's hope I get to be the latter.

In the mean time, I am trying to enrol in language classes, particularly French and German as well as English for Business and Communication. That way I could be prepared for the challenges I would face later on when I do pursue a career in International Cooperation.

However, I am having a financial crisis. If I do not recieve a scholarship or study loan, I would have to find a part-time programme to pay for the tuition fees. If, however, I do receive one, I would be absolutely releived as my mother would not have to fork out a hefty sum of money to support my studies in uni/college. Mom would be able to pay her debts and the rent.

As for a few bright moments, I am quite content that, even without asking for rewards, my relatives still found in their hearts the compassion to award me with monetary gifts to help support my future to commend me on my SPM results.

So, without further ado, I say THANK YOU GOD! Without your blessings and compassion, I would never have the pleasures in life presented in ways I could never imagine.

By the way, I cannot play the piano anymore. Mom sold our piano to the dealer who turned out to be its first owner. So if I have a hankering to play the piano, I would have to go to my neighbour's house (we're close, by the way), just to sastisfy my addiction.

So, au revior mon ami! I'll be posting again as soon as I can.

A New Leaf Turns

In life, change is inevitable...

Lately, I have found absolution. At least, that's what I have likened the new changes I could see in myself.

I've braved new challenges; opened a bank account that I actually use, opened another education fund by myself, taught 10 to 12-year-old children in 4 subjects, learned how to drive a manual car...

There's so much you can do in so little time.

Then there's that waning addiction towards japanese anime and fanfiction. Don't get me wrong, I still like them, just not as crazy as I used to.

On the other hand, I still hadn't made a dent on Liszt's La Campanella. I know I'm supposed to practice the piece but I've been sidetracked by other endeavours, namely the pieces: Musette by Mozart, Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven, Canon in D by Pachalbel, An American Tail Theme Song (my staple, I'm afraid), Pomp and Circumstance by Edward Elgar and a few Chopin works.

Suffice to say I'll have to start back from the beginning if I were to successfully play La Campanella - and avoiding note omission where possible, of course.

Besides that, there's the fact that SPM results will be announced in mid-March. I'm so nervous and scared I could vomit. At least I have done my university and college applications already. If not, I'd be in a world of trouble.

In the meantime, I'll use the time in my hands to better myself before furthering my studies. I'm sure something worth doing will come. After all, take life by the moment, take the moment as if you are living a lifetime. Take a lifetime as if there is no tomorrow. In other words, God is always your guide for tomorrow might be the day God decides to call you. Keep in mind that always do good today before your chance to do good tomorrow is taken away.

That's a piece of wisdom for now.

For the time being, it'll do.

This is me, signing out for the night.

Not Uncommon

Totally pointless blab...

Well.. just to let the non-existent visitors to my blog that I will be quite preoccupied with reading Nodame Cantabile manga. It's very addictive and I'm a manga slash anime addict. That means it's a double dose of addictive activity.

Later, I shall have to practice La Campanella. I haven't continued my practice on Liszt's La Campanella on the piano. So that means my fingers are going to have a hard time. Not to mention my wrists.

On the other hand, I transposed the manuscript from Anna Magdalena's Second Notebook as I had a hard time reading the top stave in anything other than treble clef.

At least, I've gotten better at following directions. I tend to be a compulsive player so getting my hands to cooperate my intentions to follow the musical directions is another accomplishment.

Above all, there is still the fact that I'd need to work on dexterity so as to facilitate a faster tempo in my piano playing. So, dexterity first, then gradually work on increasing velocity.

The Czerny School of Velocity might be able to help.

Provided that I don't get preoccupied with learning how to drive better.

Did I mention that I have switched jobs? My last day at the children's boutique was on the 31st of December 2008. I started tutoring 2 hours a day 4 times a week on the 1st of January 2009. So far, I haven't found reason to give up on the kids.

So that's it. Let me get back to my manga in peace and serenity.