How's your week been?

Well, since it's MY blog, I shall be narcissistic and tell you about my week. :-)

Gave tuition, juggled classes, had training... blablabla.

Important things that happened... I saw Joash off to China on Monday at 4am! =D Hehe, the business Chinaman! =) It was a pretty tough week cause we could hardly SMS/call due to the expensive charges.. nonetheless, we still did plenty of that, every night except one night we talked on the phone. Haha. Love knows no money la. =P He'll be back tomorrow (er, today) at 2.35pm!

Apart from that... CP's youngest bro was admitted into the hospital for cellulitis.. go google up, I'm not sure what it is except that it swells his face up. So Friday since UM is conveniently next to UH I dropped by in between classes, and spent the night with the small cute adorable guy. Who, unfortunately was running on Energiser batteries that night and I ended up walking 2 hours with him cause he wanted to walk. He was really frustrated though and kept wanting to go home.. poor poor guy. Oh well, he's still cute. :-) Finally left at about 10pm because..

I had a 10km run the next day. Hehe. Was organised by 12th college and I don't know what possessed me to sign up for it. I have NEVER ran 10km before. -___- But hey, it was a challenge, and I wanted to try it. It was more taxing on my mind than my body. Your mind just screams stop all the time and causes mysterious aches to appear right from the start of the race. So so so many times I felt like just giving up, but I trudged on, never once stopped to walk. No matter how slowly I jogged, I still made sure I jogged and not walk. Haha. Just remembering everything my coaches have ever taught me. It was truly a battle of the mind.

When I saw the finish line, I was taken by surprise. It definitely was NOT 10km, I knew it wasn't yet. But hey, the finish line is there! =D So I sprinted when I saw it, at first I thought we would have to go another round around UM or something, but I realised that people were stopping there. Lo and behold, when I reached, I was given a number. No. 23!! =D The top 30 women would receive medals. =)

Turns out I was right, bro was using his GPS watch and it was only 8.2km. So yeah, although the medal says 10km.. Still, at least I managed to do it under an hour. Not bad for my first time every running such a long distance. I think I only did so well because I've been training myself to run uphill/steep inclines, and UM is FULL of hills. Which was coincidentally where I overtook most of the women.

Had the adrenaline feel good rush after that, and I've been running around since 6.15am this morning, no break at all. Unless you count sleeping in the car. Worship practice, then went over to play guitar for the Chinese Service ministry... Repeat: Play guitar. Haha cause I can't sing in Chinese. But it was good, and I had a good time fellowshipping with a young girl who is in dire need of company. She brought me to walk a few rounds around her housing area and pointed out all the haunted rooms and sleazy people and whatnot. Haha.

So yeah, despite my exhaustion, I'm glad I spent the time I did with her. :-) And yeah, I'm glad I walked CP's bro for 1 hour plus too.

I see so much potential in each and every young person I meet. And it always bothers me that I DON'T KNOW how to untap the potential I see..

On a side note, the mother of one of my tuition students said that her daughter has started studying everyday by herself ever since I started giving her tuition. I don't know what I did, but I'm glad it's working.

It's wonderful, really, to gain such satisfaction. After all my time and effort given, it's good to know it's worth it.

But there comes a time when all I need is time for myself, and I'm struggling to find that time. I'll find it soon... I hope. Just me, myself, and Joash. Haha. Cause we're one. But yeah, investing into relationships, platonic or not is something I've always treasured, and something many people CANNOT understand. My relationship with Joash and family will always take precedence over other lesser issues.

Tis truly a narcissistic post! =P

Enough said, I'm blabbering, have a good night, God bless!
Jo

As I Look Back...

Daughter puts up brave front in face of grief

Think I blogged about it back then.. anyway I shall always remember this funeral as the most sorrow-stricken funeral(s) I have ever attended. I never knew them personally, but my parents were/are family friends with the older Wees.. The shock that was (still) written all over the faces of the funeral(s) attendees shall forever be ingrained in my mind. I could feel the pain arching through my heart as I stood there, looking at the coffins lined up side by side. Pain for their family, for their friends. Back then I'd just lost my dad some months back, so this was double-whammy. I'd lost my dad in completely different circumstances, painful but expected and forewarned circumstances.

I remember the wise words that an uncle, another family friend, spoke to me on that day. We were just having light refreshments and sitting around. I was sitting amongst a whole group of older Malaccan church members, all former churchmates who grew up with my parents. As they were talking about life and death (lately they were only meeting up during funerals... their circle was getting smaller), this uncle turned to be and told me that they had to pass on the torch to my generation already. He said that their best years were gone, and they had to pass on the torch. Simple English was used, nothing too profound. And yet the words stuck to me up to today.

How often have we given God our leftover years instead of our best years? Our leftovers after we had accomplished our own selfish desires, nothing that could be called SACRIFICE. Cause sacrifice for God is painful, and definitely NOT leftovers.

Just thinking over the sermon from last Sunday.

Tired. Had a full day today. Woke up at 7am, had class starting at 8am, reached home 2pm, gave tuition till 5.15pm, had guitar class 5.30pm-6.30pm, had a badminton friendly match in UM again at 7pm, reached home 10.30pm, went for dinner, and here I am, off to bed. Haha timed everything to be 15-30 mins apart today so really had to work like clockwork. Student having exam this week so she was desperate for extra classes. Zzz nitez!

God bless,
Jo

Hey Dad!

Forget about my last post, was just having an emo day at that time. :-)

I logged in your Facebook recently just out of curiosity.. your uni roommate was looking for you! Haha. Dear ol' dad, always into the latest techy event. I'm really really sorry you completely missed the iPad era, you would have LOVED it. Really!

I turned 21 this year! Mum gave me my keys to freedom... :P

I still have your final birthday gift to me.. The Yamaha keyboard! :D I still have yet to master keyboard playing but I will, someday, when I have more time to sit down and figure it out..

Anyway it's been exactly two years now.. well, you left us at 7.10pm actually so this post is kinda early. But anyway...

The Perdana car battery died.

The desktop and modem have been exhibiting extremely strange symptoms. Quite, quite spoilt already. :-(

The lights in our house is facing some kinda electrical crisis, with lights here and there blowing and not working even with new bulbs.

Our house phone is spoilt too, and I can't seem to find a replacement.. shops just don't sell phones these days.

Oh, and the Kenari is leaking although we sent it for repair a few times now.

The Vios power window is on its way to spoilt land.

So many problems, and I know that all these problems would not exist if you as our resident handyman were still around. Cars, lights, computers, leaking pipes, fixing things, paying bills... all these were handled by you. :-( Heck, even the lizard problem in our house would be solved by you.

2 years... another 3 years to go. I read that it'll take 5 years to recover from losing a loved one, but I don't believe the pain will ever go away. Someone once told me that she struggled to recall how her late brother's voice sounded like within a year.. but I strangely remember every detail about you. If I heard you calling me right now I'll recognise it... too bad you won't ever be calling me again.

I remember all our Yahoo! chat conversations when you were at work... and how we would chat right up to the point when you'll tell me you're leaving office to come home. Of course you would occasionally disappear to work but most times you entertained me before continuing your work. :-)

You were the one who was always willing to give me a chance to test out my wings.. encouraging me to drive everywhere, telling me to try out things I wanted to try out.. Never once discouraging me when I seemed to have stretched myself far too thin between too many activities.. why, now that I'm older I'm pretty sure you were active in everything when you were younger too! Ever since I could recall I've attended your hockey games, chess games, ping pong games.. and I'm told you were once active in your uni CF. And I saw your school leaving cert which listed down all your co-curricular activities.. Haha, you knew you had passed down that genes of yours to me. =P I would attend 4-5 school camps every year and you wouldn't object. =D

I was sure you'd object to me wanting to study English Literature as a degree but surprisingly you readily consented. :)

I remember your faith in my abilities... if I got 98% for a test, you'd ask why I lost the 2 marks. When I was panicking over Sejarah the night before my SPM paper, you opened my room door and told me to sleep, everything would come back to me during the exam. And it did! I remember you trying to convince me to take up my Law scholarship to Australia instead of my TESL one. I'm sorry, that didn't work out for me. Haha, I got your stubborn genes. =P

Sweetest of all, I remember how proud you were of my STPM results, how you'd tell every single visitor my results.. up to the last day. I'm sorry you only had 1 week to boast about my results.. I'm glad I made your last few days happy and pleasant. I like to think that you willingly left us so soon after my results because you knew your youngest kid would survive well without you.. I know the dreadful pain you went through throughout the 2 years, and in a way I was glad you were freed of all your crying and painful moaning.

I remember your despair when I received news that I would be doing my foundation in Kedah, few months after koko left for Australia. You thought you'll be having me home for another 2 years... you weren't prepared to let your 17 year old fly off.. sometimes I wished I hadn't, maybe certain things wouldn't have happened... but I don't really look back in regret because I am powerless to change the past.

And above all, I remember your optimism and faith when you received news about your 4th stage cancer. I remember looking at you and having faith simply because YOU were so optimistic.

I still sometimes pretend that I have a father on earth when I'm with my friends because the memories I have of you are still very fresh in my mind. I frequently tell my friends what you've taught me..

It has been a steep learning curve over the past 2 years, but I've achieved a lot in these 2 years.. I've completed my grade 4 & grade 6 classical guitar, and am on track to taking my grade 8 exam next year. You're the only one who would have been so proud of this.. Others just say I'm wasting my money on the classical guitar. Pity I never did learn from you! My CGPA is 3.97 as of now.. and I'll be representing UM to play badminton in UNIMAS, Sarawak this April! =) I'm sure you'll really be proud of that! Haha I remember how you used to videotape my games during tournaments..

I'm also trying to get into a course that will give me extra credit hours and a chance to experience life in a Southeast Asian country for a few days..

Spiritually I'm in the midst of searching answers to questions.. some questions you could have answered but me being me would always have to find my own beliefs instead of believing what I hear blindly.

Anyhow, just to let you know, you are very dearly missed by me.. and many others. Grandma claims the only good child she has who would take care of her left. :-(

Have a good time in a pain-free place, daddy! Here's a humongous hug! *HUUUGGG* Don't worry about me, I've got Joash! ;-)

Your cute & round daughter,
Char bor (As you always called me!)

PS: Nah, nice song! :-) Played it during worship practice today... guess I'm more alike to you than I ever taught I'll be dad.. I play the guitar now =D 'Tis an amazing song!

Dear Dad

It's been almost 2 years now... And the pain still hasn't gone away. Don't know where I'll be by the 4th of March 2012.. But I know having you by my side now would make me feel better. Am feeling lost and hopeless right now.. You would have understood.. *Love you...*

Tidak diluluskan

Flurry of paperwork. Tons of smses and emails sent out. Endless trips to respective departments in uni.

Only thing that keeps me going on is the thought that if I fail at this, I could very well cause it to be closed down. And seeing and knowing the people who have worked so hard to keep it alive all these decades, I have no desire to make vain their efforts.

So many lessons to learn.

Still, our God is wonderfully big.

God bless,
Jo

Discipline Discipline Discipline!

This semester I have to be so darn disciplined I have no idea how I'll even survive.

I have to juggle between so very many things that I have no idea how I'll do it.

Studies, assignments, quizzes, family (you have no idea how much time they require from me!), TWO 8AM classes!!, tuition(s)-5-7 classes a week!!, worship practices (involved in Powerkids, Sunday worship and a house service session), writing articles, CF secretarial work, grade 8 guitar, gym, MASUM... and gosh who knows what else.

'Tis easy to plan big things. Haha unfortunately I'm the one who ends up doing all the work. Work work work... born into this slavish role I guess. Cause I can't stand the thought of things failing due to irresponsibility on my part. Although I hate, oh how I HAAATEEE the work!

But anyway, enough complaining. I'm exhausted and I've had to do so much running around today. Had to drop a couple of courses, some were withdrawn. Now I'm only having a pathetic 15 credit hours until my Asia Tenggara classes are solved. Thankfully I've found favour with my lecturer and the office clerk (Haha, played alongside the staff during one of their badminton tournaments cause they needed players) so life should be slightly easier there.

Clockwork, precise timing for everything is the only answer to this life!

*Takes a deep breath* It's ok, only this sem. Work hard now, play later I always say. Pick up what skills I can before I work! Cause I'll be working so so so soon.. can't get that thought out of my head. I would have (almost) finished my final finals by my 23rd birthday.. and it's off to the working world! Yes I'll still have studies but that's only part-time.. Time really, really, really flies.

'Tis bath time!

Till I see you again in the distant future...

God bless,
Jo

Busy Busy Busy.. at 21!

What were you doing when you were 21 years old?

Haha. I'm giving tuition, writing articles, struggling with CF work, targetting to do my grade 8 guitar exam by next year, attempting to be healthy.. oh, and all on top of trying to achieve a 4.00 CGPA as a full-time student.

Trying. haha. I failed again this sem, got an A- for Linguistics. Sigh. Well, it was a horrendously boring and technical subject anyway...

Yet to find out my Music in Theatre grade but I think I should have done well. Hopefully an A... Then I would have gotten a 3.95 or 3.96 this sem. Hmm. Forgot already. Somewhere there la. As bro grinningly said, "Eh, why each sem dropping more and more..." and as Joash asked, "Is is possible to ever get back a complete 4.00 overall?"... the answer is.. No. Haha, sadly it's mathematically impossible to get back a 4.00 ever. Or even a 3.99.

Ok, reality check here. I know it's impossible for uni students to achieve 4.00 every single sem, especially as it gets harder and harder. But there is absolutely no harm in trying, is there? :-D Aim for the stars, if you fall you land among the clouds. Or some saying along that line.

By 23 years old I'll be working. Yes, I think I'll still be studying, some post-grad thing I guess, if I maintain my results and secure a scholarship. No scholarship, no study. Haha, my motto! Or maybe that's how my family brought me up. Anyhow, when I'm 23 I'll be more of a working adult than a student. :-) At least, I intend to be one. The money I make now is barely enough to sustain my expenses.. I'm quite high maintenance.. =P Ok, mainly because of my classical guitar lessons and also the gym I've joined. Yes, I've joined a gym. ;-) With Joash! =D But yeah, as my expenses get higher, I find my purse getting lighter and lighter.. bank account empty long ago. Lol.

So my main aim is to save a bit every month, I've actually got extra students now so if I just work harder I'll get more money. :-)

I'm so looking forward to finishing off my 2nd year! After another 14 weeks of studies I'll be a... THIRD YEAR STUDENT! Hahaha. Dang, that's old. And all the naggy-haggy people will tell me not to look forward to the working life. To enjoy being a student.

Heck, if you faced as much stress and lack of sleep as I have as a student, you'll want to work too. Don't give me all the crap about worrying about bills and 'new' responsibilities as a working adult. I've lived without a father for nearly 2 years now and I've had to do many things that he used to do. At least mum has learnt to do some of those things now... at one point we even had our internet and phone lines cut because I didn't pay the bills. My phone line has been cut off numerous times now. Bulbs in my house are not working and we can't figure out why. There is a serious electrical problem in one of the rooms so everything we plug in blow out after a while. And I can't freaking solve it it's so darn frustrating! Mum can't hang her arty work because drilling is giving us a problem. Something that would never have happened when dear ol' responsible dad was alive and well...

But no, I'm not whining (yeah, right). I just detest it when people condescendingly tell me to enjoy my assignments because the real world is tough. I wake up each morning to my alarm clock thinking what to do next.. Forgive my incoherency here.

The key to everything is discipline though. And come next sem, I'll have to lead such a clockwork life it'll be amazing even to myself. If not everything will just break down and I'll die. Haha. Enough sleep, no wasting time, healthy meals...

Do you know I didn't fall sick throughout my entire crazy last semester?? Now that's a miracle-working God!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me...

This break has hardly been enough, my brain is still fuzzy from last sem.. :-(

But do or die, the next semester is coming. Then my final long holidays ever.. because next year is my internship.

I'm shocked at the way uni life is whizzing pass me.. but at the same time I'm glad that it's been such a tremendously satisfying experience. Yes, I've never been so busy, but I'm thoroughly enjoying the freedom and intellectual environment I'm in. Studies is no longer about rote-learning and mugging, but actually about understanding and explaining in exams and assignments. There are no out-right wrong answers, but essays that argue and debate about issues. I wished school had given me such an experience...

But anyway, I've blabbed on for too long. :-) Hey, my blog, I can syok sendiri as much as I want!

Despite every frustration I've encountered, I think what has sustained me thus far is the love and care I am surrounded with everyday. Now I know why God placed us in communities! Mostly family & a select few friends, they may not be very many people, but I've always preferred quality over quantity. Of course, my Joash has been a great pillar of strength despite him having all his own struggles.. hope I've been as wonderful a pillar towards him.. :-)

So yeah, to a better sem...! *Takes a deep breath... dives into the pool* Hope to see you when I resurface at the end of the pool!

God bless,
Jo

Les Miserables

I think one of the most amazing gift a person could give me is a ticket to a Les Miserables musical.

Which of course will not happen anytime soon because I doubt it'll be held in Malaysia in the near future. Haha. Or anytime in the future future.

But still, it's AMAZING. :-) :-) :-) Ask me to watch it a 100 times over and I will!

Anyway, am currently in Malacca, taking a break from my hectic, mad life I led the past few months.

Had the most stressful exams ever since STPM. Can't quite pinpoint the reason why it was so stressful, but it was. Exhausted, slept about 2-4 hours per night. By my final paper my brain was so fuzzy I couldn't see straight. I slept 12-14 hours the next few days after it.

Nevertheless, it marked the end of my Sem 1, Year 2. I'm actually a REAL year 2 uni student!! Time flies. Like the wind. (Nevermind the fact that I'm graduating later than most of my friends who didn't do form 6/entered private unis.) But I'm happy to be in UM!

Oh, and I never wrote a birthday/end year/new year note this year. Time just flew, was so caught up with exams and life. Oh well, there goes some ancient tradition!

I wanna join a gym! Haha. Suddenly feel the need to work out and to lead a healthier life. No more exercise-less, sedentary lifestyle for me. I used to use the lame excuse of climbing up many flights of stairs in uni but that's hardly exercise la.

Joash is back in KL entertaining his parents now.. and being my housekeeper/plant waterer. Lol!

Still debating whether to take 18 or 21 credit hours next sem.

Am worried 21 credit hours is too heavy for me, on top of my tuition classes (I give tuition 4-5 times a week).

But 18 credit hours means I'm limiting my uni experience and stifling the education I should be getting. Haha. Knowledge is power. Really, it is. Call me a geek if you will but I've picked up so very many skills in uni I won't trade it for anything else in the world.

But how.

I'll decide later.

Oh, I actually performed on a fantastic stage last week together with my sayang, his bro - both guitarists, Elaine - dancer and Tien Mie - pianist! Hahaha. 'Twas awesome. For my Muzik Dalam Teater uni course. Tell me as a kid that I'll actually have the courage to do it and I'll tell you to eat your own shoes up. Hahaha. But turned out it was no big deal, I wasn't even nervous! Me, speaking over the mic in a huge theatre. ALONE. The rest were performers. :-) Truly a remarkable experience for each of us although we had a very small audience to watch us.

Oh, I brought fireworks to Joash's workshop on Friday night and watched the grown men play with it! LOL. That was funny, all these big burly men running in fear after they lit their fireworks. =P Too innocent though, the ones I brought. Haven't played in so many years that I realised what seemed dangerous as kids are now just little things exploding. It was fun though. I did buy one that the man warned me would be "very3 loud" and actually didn't want me to buy it (me being me stubbornly bought it, telling the man that "men, not boys" would be playing it), even Joash's guys took one look at it and claimed it would "bergempar" so they didn't play it. And because I trust their opinion on this I'm rather reluctant about lighting this particular "bomb" in Malacca. How bad is bad??

Anyway, I'm on an extremely tight budget now. Haha. No budget, actually. Somehow finished up all my money/put away some in long-term savings and next thing I know, my purse is empty. :-( But I went shopping with bro earlier today and he paid for my CNY clothings! :-D Haha, good thing my bro's one of the very rare guys who shops willingly. =) If he hadn't gone with me and patiently waited for me to choose them I wouldn't have bought any new clothes!

Waiting for next JPA/next pay soon... won't be earning too much next month, didn't write articles and gave less tuition due to exams...

Haha I sound pathetic! Nah I'm ok!

Anyway, Happy Chinese New Year!!! Gong Xi Fa Chai! (Erm, I think that means Happy New Year. I think.)

Fireworks tonight! ;-)

Ok, enough rambling.

God bless!
Jo

I can vote! =D

Haha, had a wonderful 21st birthday today, after the toughest exam paper of my life. :-)

Had lunch with Yan and Elaine, 'twas a good catching up session. :)

Had a wonderful romantic candle-light dinner in a fine dining restaurant with Joash! =D

And we talked about marriage. =P

No la, not proposing. Just talking!

Then Joel Low brought a cake when we reached home. :-)

Had a good, close-knit celebration. No big big ado for me, thank you very much! :-) Although I think that's happening tomorrow... *paces around worriedly*

Received a lovely pendant from bro and... an anklet with my keys to freedom from mom! Haha! Pretty rare to receive birthday presents from my family, so I'm pleasantly surprised. :-)

Received a birthday card by Pos Express from the Low parents! Haha, such sweet characters, they are. :-) No wonder they got such a wonderful son! (Ooh, Andrea I'm sorry. Too sappy! :D)

The ayang has gotten such a complicated gift it can only be given this weekend. haha!

Anyhow, the gifts aren't important, it was the thought and effort and time and love put into all these that I really appreciate. :-)

Next thing: Register as voter! CP wanted to do it with me this afternoon but I was exhausted and had to rush somewhere with mom in the afternoon.

=D

Sleep first, been sleep-deprived the past few days due to tough papers + diarrhoea.

Have a great day!

God bless,
Jo

"You used to get much higher than this."

Shucks.

Went to see my lecturer today about feedback for my assignment.

I'll need near perfect marks for my 3 essays tomorrow if I want to dream of an A.

And this is for the EASIER paper. Thursday is my tougher one.

:(

Sungha Jung

Been following this brilliant fingerstyle guitarist ever since his first few early videos when he was a tiny lil' kid.


Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O'Mine - Check out the brilliant guitar slapping at 2:10 onwards!


Yiruma - River Flows in You

Haha, I can only dream of playing like that.

I used to comfort myself by saying that he was an ACOUSTIC fingerstylist, and as a classical guitarist I'm different.

...

Until I mustered the courage to google up Sungha Jung - Classical Guitar. -___-


Cavatina (My grade 8 exam piece!)


Antonio Banderas - Cancion Del Mariachi

Hahaha.

Where does talent like that come from??

A better question would be:

Why am I online at 4.24am, and why am I watching Youtube when I've got killer papers on this week??

Hehe. Destress jap la! =P

I'm gonna start giving BM tuition soon! *Frantically scrambles to dig into her BM lexical thingamajig* Per..-an, memperdalamkan, memperdalam, tambahan pula - tidak sama dengan selain itu, hal ini demikian kerana BETUL.. hal ini SALAH... shucks. I daresay all these complicated rules will return to me quickly enough because of my linguistic classes now. I hope! Used to have wonderfully excellent BM teachers who gave me As and A1s in BM papers although I had COMPLETELY NO EXPOSURE to BM apart from them. Heck, I even considered taking STPM BM. But decided on History instead. Haha. My Malay friends had worse BM than me and some spoke & wrote better English than me! And many of my Malay teachers spoke English. Hmm. Welcome to Little Britain.

Tingkatan 3 je.. ape susah sgt? *cross fingers* This parent practically pleaded with me to rescue her child from the very depths of I-dunno-what so I couldn't very well say no.. besides, how hard can PMR be? Colouring contest, right? RIGHT??? That's what CP says all the time! I sincerely hope so..

4.41am. Adios!

Random...

I remember when it was time to select our IPTA's and courses we wanted..

I filled it in and left it alone, waiting for the deadline to see if I changed my mind. We were allowed to change our choices 3 times...

Hahahaha. Wai Yan and I filled ours in and then abandoned till the deadline.

Or should I say 'deadline'?

Cause when we accessed it on the 'deadline'.. we discovered we had gotten our deadline wrong, and it was in actual fact PAST the deadline! =O Haha, I forgot what the deadline was, but it was something like we thought it was the 31stm, and it was actually on the 30th.

I think a big risk when I filled mine in. I knew I only wanted English Literature in UM. The only other place I would have considered English Literature was in USM (matter of fact, only 2 unis I would have considered for anything - UM & USM) but when it boils down to language, UM is better known for its language courses. Anyhow, at that point of time my mind was focused on staying around home, rather short-term thinking but I did what my heart told me to. :-) Seeing USM had a different application process altogether, I didn't even bother applying for it because the rumour says that if we get USM and reject it, we'll be thrown around any other unis. Rumours that my seniors apparently claimed to be true cause they rejected USM 'for fun' as they knew they were already headed to NUS/overseas/private.

Anyway, when I filled in my courses, I didn't put courses that would require interviews - Law, TESL, & English Linguistics. Although technically, these were my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th choices. Haha. But as they say, if they call you for the interview and you pass, it'll automatically over-ride your top choice.

I filled in courses I don't even remember.. haha... erm... Bahasa Melayu?? Anthropology?? Something like that la. WEIRD choices that if I had gotten I would have straight away rejected and entered private straightaway.

But anyhow, I got the course I wanted (with 5 A's they had better give it to me, after my hellish STPM experience!) and I'm happy where I am now (as you faithful blog followers-whoever you may be-know). :-)

And I'm happy with Joash!

Haha, so random. But hey, it's a random post that I decided upon after I saw some Facebook statuses about IPTA applications. =D

God is good.

Have a wonderful day ahead of you!

*Still in disbelief that I'm having a horrible paper on my 21st birthday*

Oh well.

God bless!
Jo

:-)

Started English class with 2 young kids today, was astounded with their sharp minds in grasping the lesson so quickly!

I think that's the true joy in educating: Giving people wings to soar, not crutches to handicap them.

Of course, the extra income helps A LOT because my guitar fees just went up by a lot.. started grade 8! Hopefully can finish it by the time I graduate.. haha. I adore my classical guitar :-) Although I still have horrible timing (which is why I attempted to take up drums, it did help me a bit though, I can actually feel some rhythm now)..

My guitar teacher thinks I can teach guitar someday. Lol! That will be fun but not in the near future la. Still a lot to learn.

The whole idea of passing on knowledge fascinates me aplenty. To pass on skills to someone else.. the satisfaction gained.. Even last time when I did some small-time coaching in badminton, just passing on simple footwork to beginners..

Yeah, I think I'm destined to be an educator. Haha.

Teach WHAT, though?

Hmm..

Back to the books!

God bless,
Jo

....

Had class until 1 am last night.

Yes, 1 am.

-___-

Needless to say, lecturer considered it compulsory that we attended this class (watching a full-dress rehearsal), and oh boy was it complete torture. Ok, it was fun, at first. But by 11.30pm when it was only 50% through with its rehearsal...

Anyway, had a wonderful, much needed break in Kuantan, and I really enjoyed the bonding with the other Lows, both parents and brother. Not to mention a couple of really fun church members. Haha!

Did some PKV work last couple of days, simple handing in stuff. Did a lot of smiling and soft-talking to make my life in HEP easier over the next year. Zzz.

Went to Joash's workshop few hours ago to see him... and to solicit his bro's help for my project. It worked :-) Thank God for generous gifted musicians!

Attempted to learn drums from the expert but he proved to be a fantastic drummer with too little patience for noobs like me..! Guess my (lack of) drum skills shall remain that way for life unless some church people agree to teach me.. haha...

Got two new cute students for tuition! Well I assume they are cute because they're young. =P

Exhausted, think it's off to bed for me now.

God bless ya,
Jo

Home Away From Home!

Haha, having a nice relaxing holiday in Kuantan now!

And for once you'll see photos... Trying to blog from my iPhone so may as well attach photos. But I don't know how to arrange them... Hmm, you guess what I'm talking about for each pic k :P

Muh lovely cosy little room, courtesy of the Lows! Woke up this morning to my presents from the Low parents... Cute backpack, lovely notebook and pretty pencil holder :-)) peeked into the men's bedroom and saw Joash sleeping with a present next to him!!! Hahaha, talk about cute parents.

Attended service, Sayang got to play his beloved drums for worship! Haha :) as papa Low says, he hasn't lost his touch :) joined them for lunch, the church booked 2 tables and we had sooo much food, 9 course lunch, see the pig trotter??

Oh, and that's my man!

Had a humongous dinner last night, turkey! Western dinner but eastern method of eating... We all used hands LOL. Fusion, I call it. 6 of us but still sooo much left over; really really big turkey.

Hmm, what else? Having a good break, after 14 hectic weeks I need it. And so does Joash! We'll be shopping and beaching soon :)

Ok, that's all, have a very wunnerful Christmas, ho ho ho!!!

God bless,
Jo

Elllo! :-)

My sleep pattern has been extremely messed up!

What's new, right? Haha. Week 14, crunch time!

Actually, the assignments I'm rushing are only due next week, but I wanna spend a nice happy holiday in Kuantan worry-free, so now gotta rush!

Only left with English assignments, Asia Tenggara ones handed in last week... Done with one, but am rather stuck with the other.. Just feel totally uninspired. Sigh.

I finally got my iPhone 4S!!! :-)

Had a late class that night, ended 10pm, so reached Bangsar Shopping Centre only at 12am...

Queued up until...

5am.

Yes, 5 freaking hours.

By the 2nd hour I felt like giving up, but only persevered on because I already wasted my 2 hours waiting.

But anyway, after a long horrendous wait, I got it!!!

And for that I gotta thank my *ahem* Mr. Joash Low! ;-) For his perseverance and sacrifice and waiting with me although he was visibly exhausted and had so much work to do and... WITHOUT COMPLAINING! =) Now that's true husband material. Haha! I belanja-ed him a hearty meal in Kenny Roger's and a good movie on Sunday for his wonderfulness. =P

Ok la, I'm not that shallow. haha. Our relationship is beyond just seeing what we do for each other, that was just a grateful post. =D Anyway...

Things have been good, good good good :-)

Despite my busy life, his busy life, things have been wonderful. :-) At this time of the year last year I was in Australia... calling him everyday. Hehe. Things were already very stable back then, it's even stabler now! =)

And it'll be even stabler in the future :-)

As compared to back then, we now see each other once a week.. sometimes twice. Partly the distance (he used to stay fairly nearby) and also his business (and my business). Lol! But if anything the infrequentness of our dates have only served to strengthen our relationship.

Ok, Andrea's gonna say my blog's all lovey dovey so I shall stop it here. =P

Looking forward to Christmas in Kuantan! With the lovely Low family! ;-)

LOOK AT THE TIME!!

God bless,
Jo

Exhaustion

Had an exhaustive but rather satisfying week. My team won the silver medal in SUKMUM, and I won all my games throughout the week. Was exhausting to keep playing but hey, it was just one game a day and long-needed exercise. I've stopped exercising for so long now... gotta get back on track for my health's sake.

Been busy busy busy with assignments, I've been abusing my body to the extent of waking up with a stomachache most mornings... but I believe that badminton helped me to stay awake longer, I found that I could stay awake for much longer each night after a game. Well, doesn't research prove that exercising helps you to avoid exhaustion? Haha.

Rushing an assignment now, today had a dayful of social commitments and listening to a couple of friends' problems...

It's been a good day. :-)

God bless,

Jo

Memory Failure

Grade 6 classical guitar exam was today...

I was hoping to get a merit/distinction...

Didn't count on a memory failure. (I memorised all my pieces.) 2nd piece I just plain DIED, and didn't think of looking at the book until my 6th and final attempt (examiner was kind enough to let me try 6 times!). According to my teacher I got 5/20 for that piece... which is more than I deserve I suppose, once I started playing it went as well as any disastrous attempt could, but it was too late, I'd already had 5 failed attempts at starting. Just couldn't get past my 2nd bar! :'-(

Anyway, I think I passed, I THINK I passed, my teacher isn't telling me, but I really hope I did... All that hard work and it's just boiling down to a mere pass/fail. SIGH. Really disappointed myself and my teacher... he was counting on me to do well, told me he'd jump off the building if I failed. hahahahaha. Guess he didn't know I would have a memory lapse.

Hopefully my other sections pulled me up la... hopefully... scales did quite well... 13/15.

Hahaha. Anyway, just releasing some disappointment, am feeling much better already... thanks to my sayang and my mum... :-)

Never knew music, of all things! would become so important to me, I never gave 2 hoots about piano exams before this. Zzz. Haha. Guess that's because I was never so well-prepared and ready for an exam before this...

Maybe because I now pay for the monthly fees with my own money and paid the freaking expensive guitar exam fees on my own.

Or maybe because I fell in love with the classical guitar and feel disappointed with my dismal performance...

Whatever it is, a near-death incident occurred right over my exam, and that was an extremely shocking reminder to me that in whatever situations we think we're stuck in, there are worse situations that COULD happen. Suffice to say, I nearly fell a one whole storey down onto concrete........ *still in complete, utter disbelief*

Anyway, Joash had a rough day too, A LOT rougher than mine, gotta be strong for each other... =)

Have a better day than us!

Jo

Twilight 2011

Vegetarian vampires, love-struck lovers, cheesy love lines, wolves vs. vampires...

Went to watch this show with Joash because he wante-... erm, I mean, because he thinks I wanted to watch it. =P

Haha, I'm not an avid fan of Twilight really, as bro puts it, "It is an inherently female show". LOL. Not that I'm not a female or anything like that, but I just never fell head-over-heels in love with those "cute" vampires.

Ok la, I much prefer Taylor Lautner, he didn't release the not-so-good vibes that I felt Robin Pattinson constantly gave out with his sleepy eyes. But Joash called Lautner a non-PC term so I won't type it here . =P

Anyway, it wasn't all that horrible a movie, a movie is still a movie after all, it made it to the big screen!

Ok I shall quit writing reviews... been writing so many articles for a magazine my mind's kinda set on reviews di. Hahaha.

Final 4 weeks of semester, if there ever had been a time to push, it's NOW! =) Been surviving on 5-6 hours of sleep per day, tests and assignments, not to mention guitar exam. =) *Itchified and can't wait to start grade 8*

MMmm. And I finally agreed to be the secretary of PKV despite my stubborn decision from few months ago not to remain in the committee. Hahaha. Up to last week I confidently told my committee I would not be remaining in it. But oh well, things happened and I just did what I had to do. Hopefully this saying: "Be faithful to Me and I will be faithful to you" rings true over the next year...

I'll be spending Christmas in Kuantan! =D Now that's something to look forward too. Uncle George said he'll be glad to pass on "wild boar technology" to me LOL.

A few days ago the radio said "It's never too late to start caring about your health." I wholehearted DISAGREE. Choices we make today affect our tomorrows. People with unhealthy eating habits end up with heart diseases, diabetes, cancer, high cholesterol, high blood pressure... and all these require treatment for life (which you may not have much time left anyway). I have seen so many people lose their father, husband, brother, son to these diseases... yeah, it's usually the men who go first, most care nothing at all for their health. Haha. I honestly wouldn't care too if I didn't have loved ones around me, but I do, and I don't want to break their hearts by forcing them to take care of me if these diseases ever struck me. No guarantees that they won't, but I guess all I can do is prevent them for as long as I can.

Ok, random few paragraphs, guess you can call it a verbal diarrhoea. =P

Have a good day,

Joanne

New Student!!

Am getting a new student to tutor this Friday! =)

Maybe I should just enter the tuition line la. It's so enjoyable... and it gives me pocket money to enjoy!

But I enjoy writing too... my article got published in a magazine this month! =P

And I'm still trying to get 4.00 -__- in the midst of all my hectic life. Fat chance la Joanne.

Haha.

Maybe that's exactly what lecturing in the future will allow me to do - to teach and to publish. :-) Am learning how to be a "Yesman" from Joash! =P

Oh well, one step at a time.

For now, life is about:

#1. Loving God.

#2. Loving Joash and my family. =)

#3. Grade 6 guitar exam Dec 2!!!

#4. Assignments

#5. Giving tuition

Mmmm.

Oh. And I'm back on the UM badminton team. Hahaha. Can't seem to run far from them, they keep lacking players. Have a tournament on Dec 3rd... why did I join the team ahh?? Cause I wanted exercise... the commitment isn't much, I go for training only when I can (precisely why I've not attended a single training this semester LOL) and I'll need it for scholarship purposes in the future... representing a top uni in Msia would sound good, no? No idea la. But I think it'll help.

Ok, am off now!

*High on work*

God bless,

Jo