Turkish Delights Peek

Hungry much? I am now.

Wait for my post on my adventure in the land of two continents. Europe meets Asia.

Farewell Birmingham Part 1

Such a sad day. Today will be the last day I am in Birmingham. Fond memories, bad memories all packed in a year and 3 months time. 

Will surely missed them all.

Will update more when in London. Talk soon.

This is a Man's World

Starting from today, I'll be in full marathon settling errands and such. 

- Need to look for ropes and net for shipping. Don't ask me why..

- Pay and canceling off all bills contracts with Vodafon, Virgin Media, British Gas and Seven Trent Water Supply. Thank God they were really helpful.

- Cancel off Tracker Network. Haven't done that yet.

- Meeting with landlord. Dreadingggg...

- Arranged with the shipping/container/cargo company. Progressing..

- Look for Dad's stuff for the car. Looking..

- Find new tenants to replace Sheena and I. 

- Find new hand luggage. The one that I always use is broken.

- Packing and labeling. 

- Packing and labeling.

- Cari baju and kasut convo. Tak sudah-sudah... ;(

- Packing and labeling.

- Tukar duit..

So so penat. I'll be leaving the country in less than 25 days and I need to ship all of my things (including Iqa's) in 10 days. I hope I can make it.

All stressed out but I'm excited at the same time. 

There are days when I just feel sad as well. Like yesterday, when I was watching the X-Factor and I thought to myself that this could be my last! Ceh..emp pop pulak.. I know it's pathetic, but if you are in my shoes, you'll probably feel the same way too.

Talking about X-Factor, I felt that Cher did really well yesterday. Thought she's actually cocky but she got that 'star' package. Thank God she was qualified for finals, though I am bit sad for Mary, because she can actually sing! 

But my favourite is still.. Rabecca Ferguson. Trust me, she'll win next week!

Mary Byrne ' This is a Man's World'

Rabecca Ferguson with 'Show me love'..

Just Another Day

November November November. I can't believe we're at the end of year 2010 and soon without realizing, it will be 2011. How time flies so fast. 2011 - I'll be 26 years old. 4 years after that, I'll be 30! And may target is, at least I have 2 kids by then! Need to get moving yaww! I've been so lazy updating my blog nowadays, it could be because of the cold, and all I wanted to do is to just curled up in my duvet, watch tv series/film or finish up all of my romance novel. Kur kur toinggg!

My graduation ceremony will be on the 15th of December 2010 and Alhamdulillah, I am proud to say that I have obtained my MA. The degree that I was in pain for a year, the degree that my parents invested their money on and the degree that I was dreaming for even before I finished my undergrad years. Alhamdulillah syukur.

Salam Aidiladha everyone. Enjoy the beef rendang, oxtail soup, etc. Eat well.

The Road Not Taken?

Once I start working next year, all of the money that I am going to earn will be my savings for my wedding (ehem) and future. This is really important for me until I have to jot it in my blog. (mode tengah banyak fikir. Another word: ANXIOUS)

I am always anxious of my future. I do not know what's coming my way and how am I going to live my life as well as with whom I will spend the rest of my life with. Right now, I am in a healthy relationship with a great guy (whom I also regard him as my best friend) for 6 years now and I really hope that things will go according to plan. Amin.


Career? I have a Masters degree, but that doesn't mean jobs will come flopping my way. No. Some companies/organizations avoid hiring a person with a Masters Degree and why is that? It is because they know they have to pay a bit more according to the qualification. So, at the end of the day, the one with a Masters Degree will have to settle with a standard basic Bachelor Degree salary. Don't get me wrong, I am not choosy or anything. A standard Bachelor Degree salary sounds appropriate to me, it's just I am only scared they won't hire me at all.







Let me 'demo' an example(s):


(During a Malaysian career fair last April in London)


After introducing myself..


University X: (looking at my CV) Oh, impressive. So, what exactly is a Critical Discourse Culture and Communication?
Me: (Semangat mode) It's actually a type of discourse analytical research that studies language as a form of social practice and focuses on the political ... bla bla bla..
University X: Ohh...
Me: Basically, it is a branch of applied linguistic, I am also specializing in syntax and functional grammar, sociolinguistic, multimodal analysis as well as business English. I am actually interested in an academic post here in your university. (Still in semangat mode)
University X: Interesting. So, you are looking at being a lecturer?
Me: Yes.
University X: Ok, the thing is right now, we need new fresh lecturers like you, we are interested in you if only.. you already have a PHD..or if you do PHD in our university. We have this program called bla bla bla (semangat-ly promoting the program)
Me: (Didn't hear anything he/she said as I am already lost in thoughts and frustration)
University X: So, if you are interested in holding an academic post in our university, come back again with a PHD, we would definitely take you or you can always do your PHD in our university.
Me: Oh ok. Never mind, I am still interested but can I just leave my CV to you in case of anything?


Ini career fair ke or education fair? I remembered when I applied at the same university previous years (when I only have a Bachelor Degree), they told me to come back when I got my Masters, and here I am with one, they asked me to come back again with a PHD. They want the 'ready-made' student with a PHD. I did asked about sponsorship for my PHD and they said no.


There were other university booths and I got the same ol' answer.


So, at that moment I'm not giving up. Furthermore, I do not want to waste my CV (I printed 10 CVs for this career fair) and my train ticket as well as my accomodation in London (stayed at Malaysian Hall). I decided to try other companies besides universities. And I did managed to get in for interviews but some companies (those that I'm interested in) focus in taking only the Bachelor Degree qualifications.


I'm either under-qualified or over-qualified (nothing to be proud of).


So what now? I was tired and that moment all I wanted to do was to go home and sleep it off. And pray to God that things will be ok for me in my career paths.


Moral of the story: Beggars can't be choosers.
Not that I'm being choosy or anything, (at least we need to put some standards right in choosing what's best for us. Tak boleh la main sarbat aje). But in certain circumstances like this, we can't be that choosy. Really..


I'm 25 this year. A lot of people said to me, 25 is still a young age. I don't feel that way. I felt old and sometimes I felt a bit left out. My peers are working their asses off, saving moolahs and collecting assets, getting married and already married. But to make myself feel better, I should be (and I am) grateful to God and my parents because I've already accomplished one goal, my MA. Alhamdulillah.

A person can't have everything right?


So, to friends who's already married, planning to get married, bought a house and have savings, I salute you. Tell me, how do you do it?

My Merdeka

Merdekaaa!
It's done.. proofread, double checked, printed, bound, sealed, and submitted. 12.30 pm on the 3rd of September. I'm not kidding, it is the BEST feeling in the whole wide world.
My sleeping pattern has been a bit crazy during my dissertation write up mode. I slept at 8 am and wake up at 1pm every single day! It's not healthy and it is making my face more sembab and what my mom would say 'macam dulang'. Hilang seri wei anak dara tido lambat and bangun lambat.

The things I want to do after DISSERTATION:
1. Read novels!
2. Movies movies and more movies
3. Sleep
4. Kemas rumah
5. Shop and revamp wardrobe skit
6. Travel to EU countries
7. Get a part time job!
8. Buy more novels
It is eat, pray and live. Have you guys watched it?

Good Ol' Weddy

Today I had a good day. Wrote quite a lot for my disso, treated myself for the 'eat-all-you-want' £10 sushi at Shogun, had coffee and dessert at Cafe Rouge near the canal and indulged in a dissertation-free conversation with Sheena and Azizul. I have 9 more days to the submission date and I seriously can't wait any more longer than that! Rimas dah!

So, it was a good ol' Wednesday for me.


On the other hand, I find her really pretty. She's all grown up. My style icon 2.Will write more about her soon.

Disso Mode

This is me now. Ugly sight, isn't it? I'm not happy; therefore, I'm ugly. FUGLY I tell you. Pppfftt

2 weeks more and I'm gonna be 'pretty' again. *Fingers cross*

Let's Go Dutch

During Spring break, the Hubery girls and I decided that, for our last trip (more like their last trip), we decided to indulged ourselves in a crazy vacation to Amsterdam. Yeah, you heard that..Amster-damn.

The pictures will tell the story..

The beautiful canal along the sidewalk.

Lala and I at the gift shop. Check out the cool clogs.

The architecture is funkayy.

The most famous ‘coffee shop’ (as they claimed) in Amsterdam. Many scenes in the movie Ocean’s Thirteen (Brad Pitt and George Clooney..ring a bell?) was shot here.

The interior of the ‘coffee shop’. It’s dark but there’s so much sparkly lights..it’s to make you ‘sparkleyy’.

The magic mushroom. They have it on sale! DUH!

The entrance of the infamous Red Light District. From brothels to sex shops to live porno to hash brownies and museums, the Red Light District leaves nothing to the imagination.

Condoms Galore.

This is right in front of the the gothic Oudekerk or Old Church along the Red Light District.

We certainly didn’t miss out the Sex Museum of Amsterdam.

More canals and bicycles.

The newly refurbished Anne Frank House

Us happy!

High on happy pills!

I love Amsterdam!

I will come back for round 2!

Three

ikhlasincere:

Talks that last into the late night on love, lies and religion. We might forget all that was said in a few days but the moment was special and I think it’s nice to note it down.
July 13, 2010 Evening till July 14, 2010 Early Morning

Look at that! We were young, ‘stupid’ (check out me in pink!), and SLIM!

Las Iguanas, Arcadian Place

For my twenTEEN fifth birthday (which was 2 months ago), I organized a little dinner party for myself and CELS mates (with the help from Sheena) at this chic and swanky Mexican restaurant called Las Iguanas nearby Arcadian and China Town. They served the best paella, fajitas, guacamole and cocktails (well then, mocktails for me!).

It was a nice breezy and sunny day in summer, so they had some people sitting outside of the restaurants

Me... 25?

Spiced Chicken, sweet peppers and cheese Enchilada - It is a hand-rolled tortilla smothered in a homemade smoked chilli & tomato sauce with melted cheese. This dish is served wuth garlic & coriander rice & refried black beans. I had this and the taste was quite unique, though i wish I chose a different dish as it was not that filling.

Spiced chicken and cheese Chiminchanga - Hannah chose the most favourite traditional mexican called chimichange where it is also a handmade tortilla parcel but more crispy served with homemade salsa, guacamole, soured cream, garlic & coriander rice & refried black beans. I tasted it and it is quite interesting.

Overall, this restaurant can be considered as an OK place to chill for cocktails and maybe for their wide variety of tapas. Food for the main courses? I could say that I would prefer Chillis in Malaysia over this. The ambience of this restaurant was lively with their own unique latin background music and there was even a dance floor for those who want to salsa their feet away. But that's just it. I'm still all for Chillis yo!

Food - OK

Ambience - Good

Happy Girls

I personally think that happy girls are the prettiest, smartest and gentlest. And I've yet to become one of them. Not that I am saying I am unhappy with my life, but sometimes the feeling of being pressured or under a lot of stress is sucking all of my happiness away. I am becoming more and more of a pessimist, or maybe a BITCH?

Aren't they the prettiest looking girls ever?


Can we go back to this? I was so so happy. This was taken in Amsterdam, after I've submitted my final essay! No wonder!

I guess this is just another dissertation-mode speaking.