Seen a Vertical Ceiling?

Taipei

2009-01-19T22:34:00.004+08:00

Marching Competition

2009-01-09T22:51:00.003+08:00

Can you spot me? XP

oh oh..and we came in second place!!! :D

南門社授證

2008-12-10T06:42:00.003+08:00

I let them talk me into singing.

It was 南門社 (Rotary Club of Taichung South)'s Anniversary dinner celebration. They asked me to sing a song with Jack who's ROTEX and his dad's a rotarian from that club.

The last time I sang sang a proper song in front of an audience (Rasa Sayang doesn't count because I had background music and there was someone singing as well) was when I was 8 or 9. I froze on stage and forgot all the lyrics of my song. Yeah, horrible basically sums it up.

This time it was a Taiwanese song. We spent quite a bit of time preparing for it, and both of us sang it as a duet and he played the guitar as well since we couldn't find the Karaoke version of it.

On that day, Jack came to pick me from my house to practise. My face was practically frozen when we reached home cause it was super cold that morning and we were on a scooter. Me having a perpetual cold didn't help either..was becoming more and more afraid I was going to sound like a duck being slaughtered when on stage later that night.

The anniversary dinner was held at this very grand place called 中僑會館 in Taichung City. It was where the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival was being held.

We were there early for sound check and after that I just remembered having to keep telling myself not to be too nervous. lol.

The dinner started with the usual speeches and stuff and what they had that was quite special was that at the begining, they had all the past presidents and their wives doing the 'red carpet' walk. XP and they were all holding balloons- the men held swords and wore crowns, while the ladies held a flower. When I saw that I was like..eehhh I want one too XP Just kidding lah

After everyone has made their way onto the stage, suddenly they play this birthday song and a freaking cake comes rising up from the stage!! SIAO or not?! I'm thinking this Rotary club seriously has too much money too spare.

Food served looked very yummy but I couldn't really eat much of it cause most of it was seafood and plus the butterflies in my stomach made it almost impossible for me to shove anything down my throat.

Feliz Aniversario

2008-12-03T14:29:00.002+08:00

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY 17th BIRTHDAY DEAREST AMANDA!!

Wishing you all the best and the best of everything!

祝妳生日快樂,夢想成真!

A change of wind XP finally..Tse Leng's saved

2008-11-24T17:53:00.003+08:00

YES! you guessed RIGHT! XP I finally changed host families!!! ><

I'm now staying in Wujih, 烏日, a place south of Taichung city. My host parents are much much much better :) they're family's very different from my previous host family, and I have a lot more freedom here now. We seem to get along better too XP

My host dad's name is Apple 莊正和 he works from home and has his office just downstairs. So ground floor is his office, 2nd floor is basically our living space, and the 3rd floor is sort of a storage place that is insanely messy (and when it's coming from Tse Leng, I mean it's REALLY messy) and a little rooftop garden and a place to hang out laundary.

My host dad deals with computers, he reparis them, sells them etc. My host mum is a housewife but she's very busy herself cause my host dad invests in property and she's in charge of renting them out, collecting rent and even renovations. (she actually does most of it herself! no kidding! she knows how to remove and fit a new toilet bowl, fit new doors, tiling..they save a whole lot of money on renovations XP)

Besides my host parents, I have 2 host sisters. One's a year older than me, she went on exchange 2 years ago to the US. And my other sister's 14.

And..we have a cat XP. Quite differnt huh? Back home I have 2 brothers, a father who works away from home and 3 dogs. Now, I have a father who works from home, is home almost all the time, sends us to school, 2 sisters, a cat, 3 birds and fishes.

His name's Dan Dan. They didn't buy him or anything..he was a stray cat actually. There was a very strong typhoon sometime early August, before I came to Taiwan, and 烏日was badly flooded. Some of my host family's things were washed away so after the water receeded, they walked out to try to salvage anything that they've lost. They didn't find all of their lost items, but instead, found an almost new born kitten by the road side without it's mother.

So they took it home and here it is XP

And..this is my room. It's much smaller than my last room, but it's still comfortable. The pictures aren't really taken very well since it's a little hard to squeeze myself to one corner of my room and try to capture my room..it's almost impossible cause my room's so small.

Well if you can see I don't actually have a bed. My room has a little Jap style to it, so I basically have a thin mattress that I spread out on the floor and that's my bed.

See the wooden frame? My host mum fixed that up herself..she does most of the interior designing herself as well :)

My tiny miniature table..

Oh..and I don't really have a closet either XP most of my clothes are still in my suitcase. Most of my clothes are summer clothings anyways..so I don't really wear them now. I remember how much trouble it was to pack all my things when I moved from my 1st host family, so I decided that I'll just unpack what I need when I need them..so at least when I move to my 3rd host family I won't have to pack as much XP yes I know I'm lazy. Shut up.

I'm liking this place much better than my last..it's much more convinient as well! Right outside my house is 2 seven-11s. and across the road are rows of shops and in the day there's the day market, and at evenings is sort of a miniature night market where they sell lots of taiwanese food etc.

more later..toodles

IT'S GETTING COLD

2008-11-09T20:25:00.002+08:00

HELP!!

Saturday it was a tad bit windy and it was drizzling a little. But Sunday was insane. Rained the WHOLE day and it was freaking cold!!

In just like one or two days, we had from summer temperatures down to 16 or 17 degrees. SIAO OR NOT?!!!

I was out on Saturday with shorts! and now I'm wearing like 3 layers. - . -

My host family wanted to bring me to see this flower exhibition in 大坑 somewhere near 霧峰. It's a little hilly there.

Hilly + Rain + Mud + Cold = Not a very nice experience

The flowers were really nice, it was plots of land, filled, like a sea of flowers. Something I've personally never seen before, and I don't think there's anywhere in Malaysia where you can find something similar.

I tried taking some pictures, but they all turned out horrible cause I was struggling with my unbrella, trying not to get wet, trying not to get my camera wet, and at the same time trying to take pictures. Not an easy task.

Anyways..will take some time to put some words to the pictures I've uploaded donkey years ago ><

烏日社三日遊-台南

2008-11-02T15:08:00.014+08:00

10th of October is Taiwan's National Day. Lucky thing that was a Friday, so we all had a long weekend off. I wish it was a Monday though, I hate Mondays. 4 freaking periods of sewing class
- . -

Anyhow, my host club, 烏日扶輪社 organized a 3-day trip to the south of Taiwan. About 60 of us were going.

Dragged my ass out of bed at like 6 in the morning to do some last minute packing then we were off to catch the bus with the others.

Our group picture at the old fortress

Our tour bus was pretty cool. You don't get such busses in Malaysia. It had like 6 tv screens (the ones you usually get in busses in Malaysia, but our busses have only one.) and one huge ass flat screen right in front.

Malaysia- 1 tiny tv screen the size of a matchbox

Taiwan- 6 tv screens + 1 HUGE tv screen- so huge it's longer than you if you lie flat.

We left the house a little later than planned, (as usual - . -) so we didn't have time to grab breakfast. But lucky thing, Taiwanese people eat like every 15 minutes and are ALWAYS ALWAYS well prepared.

When I got on the bus I was given not 1, but 2 Mantous 曼頭..and that's not it.. + 1/2 a Guava 巴樂

Yes I'm happy I had breakfast XP

Our first stop was 台南 to visit an old Japanese fortress. (at least I think it was Japanese) but if I'm not wrong it was later taken over by..someone else..and some architectural changes were made to the fortress. The tour guide wasn't exactly helpful, she was walking ahead of everyone else and talking away into her mic like she was giving the fly behind her ear the tour.

Yes, everyone carries an umbrella.. I remmeber complaining about this when I was in Cambodia, where all these Korean, Japanese and Chinese tourists came in packs all armed with umbreallas. They would squeeze their way past you, so some would abruptly just jostle you aside. I'm pretty fine with that, but their umbrellas were the problem. As you know, us Asians are not that tall.

Their umbrellas, hence would not be held very high, and in fact held rather dangerously at our eye-level.

I almost had my eye taken out by those passing umbrellas. Not funny.

But anyhow, I see it's the same over here. I steered clear of all umbrella-carrying people.

My 3rd host parents :) Implant and 夫人

Note: He's Implant, not because he's a plastic surgeon, but a dentist. XP I assumed he was a plastic surgeon when I realised these guys name themselves after their professions.

I'm very curious though, what if you totally change your profession? Let's say, you're Dentist today, but what if something happened and suddenly you're dealing with insurance? Are you going to change your name to Life?

I think my 3rd host parents are pretty nice :)

My host mum loves shopping, dolling up and stuff. So at least I don't think I'll be deprived of shopping when staying with her ^^

And my 3rd host dad used to travel a lot to Indonesia and Malaysia for business purposes, so he still speaks a little Bahasa Melayu. First time we met, he was happily trying to talk in Malay :)

My club President, Life and 夫人

Nicest people ^^

My future and present host sisters =D Angel and Elain

Rotarians singing a Taiwanese song 台語歌

Puppies!!

2008-10-18T11:59:00.006+08:00

We didn't even know our German Shepard, Sherry was pregnant till a few weeks before she was due XP
It was a litter of 6, but the other 3 didn't make it. But..we still have 3 adorable puppies XP

Bleh 我好懶惰 I'm lazy

2008-10-16T16:46:00.007+08:00

I know I need to do some catching up with the updating and the writing..will get to it very soon.

我好久沒有在這里寫日記了. 有時間時,一定會再寫一寫!

It was Taiwan's National Day on the 10th of October, so it was a long weekend for everyone..PHEW. .

10月10日是台灣的國庆日. 當天是星期五, 所以那星期的週末變長了.

My host club organized a 3 day trip to Tainan, south of Taiwan.

我的接待扶輪社烏日扶輪社有扮個到台南的三日游.

So I have like tonnes of pictures from those 3 days..looking through them and should be putting them up soon

我們去台南這三天我拍了很多很多的照片!

Anyhow..school's been slightly boring these few days because of the exams.

這幾天在學校都沒什麼事做. 同學們大家都忙著讀書, 溫習功課, 準備考試.

They have their 3 days of exams this Wednesday till Friday.

他們考試一共有考三天, 從星期三到星期五.

I had no absolutely no classes on Monday and Tuesday since all the teachers are revising for the exams so they do not have any of their vocational classes.

我們這幾天連星期一和星期二高職上的課都變成自習課. 因為老師們都忙著為學生們復習, 因此都沒有上那一类的課程.

So Amanda and I are just sitting in the teacher's office..either going online, or fixing puzzles, or chatting, or studying chinese or playing some funny paper game from Brazil =P

那我和Amanda就在老師們的辦公室里不是打電腦, 或拼圖, 或聊天, 或學中文, 就是玩一個來至巴西在紙上玩的游戏.

允許
Anyways..I had time to practise a bit of my Chinese typing-skills! :D It took me quite a while to type this out.. It's a poem I learnt in Chinese class.

遊子吟

慈母手中線,
遊子身上衣,
臨行密密縫,
意恐遲遲歸,
誰言寸草心,
報得三春暉.

Another one turns legal!

2008-10-05T20:38:00.004+08:00

Happy Happy 18th Birthday Felipe!!!! :D

Presentations!

2008-10-05T20:15:00.003+08:00

Orientation Baby!!!! XD

2008-09-27T16:42:00.007+08:00

The long-awaited Orientation!!

The first thing I thought about when I came to Taiwan. It was a little boring at home and I was counting down the days till orientation, when I would be able to meet all the other exchangers. But stoooppid typhoon came and it got postponed till the following week. I swear my host mum actually sounded happy and there was a tinge of triumph in her voice when she told me that it's postponed. = . =

Anyhow, host dad dropped me off at the hotel where the orientation was going to be held. I went upstairs to find that I lot of host families have actually come along to watch their exchange students introduce themselves in Chinese and perform something from their country. I was going to speak as well and perform a short song, but my whole family was back home, sleeping. I've never felt so loved, I tell you.

Nevertheless, spotted the first exchange student I met here in Taiwan! Ross from US. We met at where we got our Visas done.

He sitting right in front of me with two other Taiwanese teenagers. I sorta guessed the possibility of him being an exchange student like me. I was trying to guess where he was from, he was wearing a cap that had a French flag on it..so I was like..I don't remember our district having an exchange student from France...maybe he isn't an exchange student.

Then my host mum talked to his host dad, and found out that he's from US!

Anyways...it was a nice feeling to know that there are others here already and that I'm not alone :)

We had a bit of time to socialize and get to know one other, exchange namecards and pins.

It was great to know that there are exchangers from Thailand, India and Indonesia as well! :D

Then we had this little talk about how to learn Chinese..

From Mexico, Eduardo, Hugo, Jorge, and Adrian

Myself with Mathuros and Saya from Thailand!

餐一甲-中餐烹飪

2008-09-20T21:09:00.007+08:00

Chinese Cooking- Every Wednesdays

The first time setting into the Chinese Cooking classroom...didn't have a good impression of the classroom since it smelt stronly of grime, oil and filth. The workstations are seriously dirty and ours had ants crawling everywhere =/

Anyhow, the class began with the teacher demonstrating. We were to make fried rice that day.

She taught us the different basic cuts, how to handle the knife etc.

and without furtherado, we had to set out to work!

Amanda cutting cucumbers
Me working on my squid :P

TADA!!

餐一甲- 飲料調酒

2008-09-20T20:50:00.006+08:00

飲料調酒- mixology/ bartending class (Every Tuesday mornings)

YES! We get to learn how to mix drinks and even get to taste them XP I wouldn't say all of them are nice..quite a few that we learnt how to make recently taste disgusting, but anyhow, still interesting :D

Since it was the first lesson, the teacher explained all the names of the apparatus, cups, etc etc. Yes, ALL in Mandarin - . -

My wide wide grin XP

We were going to learn how to make a drink called Tequila Sunrise.. 特及拉日出

And..working XP

TADA!!!

中秋節

2008-09-20T18:55:00.013+08:00

中秋節 or Moon Festival is a very very big thing over here in Taiwan.

They celebrate by having 烤肉(barbeque) fests every Saturday and Sunday nights 3 weekends prior to the actual festival, and eating 月餅(mooncakes), 太陽餅(sun biscuit?) and 公婆餅(husband and wife biscuit?) lol. These are directly translated so they're a little weird =P

But they taste really really nice..reallly!!

So anywayss..烏日扶輪社 had a huge huge 烤肉 fest complete with fireworks and everything! It was beautiful..it was at a restaurant on top of a mountain overlooking the entire city. When nightfall came, when we look out of the restaurant we see a a vast of darkness illuminated by the city lights. So so breath-taking-ly beautiful =D

Sadly I don't have any pictures because I brought my camera, but my memory card was still at home in the card slot in my laptop :( I know..I should have just jumped off the mountain.

The fireworks we had we the huge huge ones you see during Merdeka celebrations in Malaysia!! I was like.. = . ='' I'm the world's stupidest fool.

The only two pictures I managed to steal...

Notice the old dude on the left..he's has the'peace' pose as well. =P

Me with host family :)

The next weekend was our turn for our own 烤肉 session. Home 爸's factory workers we all gonna gather at the factory to have a fest =D

So that morning, I was feeling very sweet so I woke up super early to accompany my darling of a host mother out to the morning market to get supplies and food for tonight.

Well okay fine..I wanted to see for myself a typical market here in Taiwan..but still..woke my ass up at like 6 am to go to the market with her.

The meat guy. I was kinda grossed out by the fact that he was continuously smoking while cutting meat to be sold to customers. But whatever lah..I mean my host family has been eating meat from his stall for that many years and they're still alive..so I don't think I'll be dying anytime soon.

Host mum picking out corn! I heart corn.

SHOES SHOES SHOES! For NT$100! That's like RM10.

And the 烤肉-ing begins. XD

My host dad is pretty funny. He was putting up this make-shift shelter thing at the parking space of his factory. And while putting it up, he asked me..

"詩鴒, 你們馬來西亞有DIY嗎? 現在DIY在台灣很流行耶!"

"Tse Leng, do they sell DIY things in Malaysia? DIY is very popular here!"

Yes, Malaysia does obviously sell DIY stuff, and it just cracks me up the way he talks about DIY things. It's like a trend to them and if you buy and use DIY stuff..you're much better than everyone else - . -

Our insanely small and disposable barbeque pits

The food

and more food...

Host cousins and uncle They have this thing that kids do during Moon Festivals. They eat a lot of Pomelos, and after peeling the Pomelos, the kids would wear the 'skin' as hats. Don't ask why.

Host dad's factory workers

Yes, I know how much I look like a kid when I play with fireworks XP

大里國光社 YEP 交換學生歡迎會

2008-09-03T16:04:00.007+08:00

I'm seriously behind with my blogging. It's just been pictures and pictures and no words. ><

Anyhow, I was lucky enough to be brought out to 大里國光社's welcoming dinner for their YEP 交換學生.

I was super glad to see Pedro, and Dodo yet again, and met more exchange students! Felipe from Brazil and Mathuros from Thailand! (finally another asian!!)

We also met a whole bunch of other ROTEX students :)

Anyhow..we were all a little shy at first, and well half of the table was speaking Portuguese..so I was pretty much lost most of the time.

And if you're wondering what that slimey thing below is..I'm not really sure..but it was our first dish. XP

Mind you, it was still ALIVE and MOVING

We were all like..

o.O !!!!

We're so not touching that..

Cause I mean even the Taiwanese people on our table were a little weirded out by our first dish..

But thankfully the unfriendly waitress came back with a little pot of soup thingyy with fire below and she told us to dump our very much alive clam friends into the soup to cook.

And well as usual we had to do the self introductions...

Wei wei introduces the Brazilians :D

'Hi, I'm who and who and I'm from where and where, I'm hosted by which club and sponsored by which club and from which district and I'm how old..nice to meet you all..'

I'm not exactly sure where I was running away to with the microphone =P

Our friend from Thailand!! Neighbour! =D

The exchanging of club banerettes

Update :P

2008-09-03T15:23:00.004+08:00

Is she the cutest thing or what? :P

Meet my cute neighbour, Nini. She comes over to play once in a while..brings back old old memories when we used to use lego blocks and build houses and play characters..hehe

She likes me okayy..she just wasn't ready for the picture..

My host dad owns a factory, and well we bring him dinner sometimes, so here's a few pictures of what his factory looks like..

it doesn't smell very good though..

Sometime in the week we visited Grandma! Host mum's parents. They live somehwhere in 乌日not really sure where exactly. But somewhere a bit more kampung.

This is the view outside their house..pretty nice huh?

September 1st- Followed host mum to pray to 土地公

We went to a temple first, then to host dad's factory. It seems that if you pray at the factory it's for wealth and success of the business..or something along those lines..

They have lots of lanterns hanging from the ceiling of the temple. People can pay a small fee and have their family names written on these lanterns and well it's for safety and good luck. They will be up there till the next big festival.

Evenings after bringing host dad his dinner we sometimes stop by the riverside and take a short stroll..the river's pretty dried up but the view at night is still pretty nice cause of all the lights :D

and after our walk they like to reward themselves with Taiwanese 'ice kacang' :P

This shop is just right outside our house..how convinient eh? :P

It's actually called 五種冰so you get to choose 5 different ingredients to go with your ice. I usually just let my youngest host sis, elaine choose..since we share one bowl. One bowl is super big, we can't finish it most of the time..

Somebody's 365 days older!

2008-08-29T10:44:00.013+08:00

Woi Brazillian!!

HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY PEDRO!!!

Another Karaok + Seafood + Drinking (I can't stress on this enough, not us =P) Session

2008-08-28T23:09:00.008+08:00

I apologize..my photos always come on first..but the actual blogging and writing comes like 2 or 3 posts later..

But anyways..I'm blogging now..so well at least I am =) it's a good way of keeping track of what's happening..and since I have the time..so why not? =P

The other night on Tuesday was District Governor Bill's visit to Rotary Club of Wujih and they had a dinner for him..well that night, the Club President from Rotary Club of Wu Feng attended as a visiting Rotarian and I met him there..he kindly invited me over for their dinner for District Governor Bill's visit to meet Rotary Club of Wu Feng's two exchange students from Brazil.

I was estatic. YAY. I'm finally going to meet people MY AGE. lol. no offence.

Host mum and host dad wasn't free to bring me..so Club President Life and wife came to pick me since they were going to attend the dinner as well.

We were like one of the first people there..and we were just visitors..

Dinner always begins with a group photo with the District Governor..basically it's the same drill as two nights ago..

This time when DG Bill made the speech..(it was pretty much the same thing) I understood so much moreee!! ;)

Rotarians of Rotary Club of Wu Feng with DG Bill and wife

and..I was going to exchange club bannerettes with Rotary Club of Wu Feng, so had to go on stage, again..I almost tripped =/

And after shaking hands and taking a photo with them..he handed me the mic and I was like..stupidly..huh?

He's like..say something..introduce yourself.

One of the good things about coming to Taiwan is that..I can just well simply say a few things..they could be relevant or not, but as long as it's in Mandarin, everyone's like..wwwoooowww she can SPEAKK!! :P But I was caught offguard this time and my brain wasn't functioning properly..and co-ordination between my brain and my voicebox was kinda loose that night..so I sorta missed the few important key points..but still..introduced myself =)

And after my last self-introduction at the Rotary Club of Wujih meeting, I reminded myself to say thank you at the end in Hokkien the next time I speak on stage..but yet again, I forgot..

I WILL remember next time :P

And..they welcomed their two exchange students from Brazil..Dorival and Pedro

They had to stand on stage and introduce themselves as well..and after a few phrases, the mic was passed to their Club President and he was doing a short introduction for them in Mandarin and it was kinda funny cause he said a few funny things but they didn't quite get it..but ahh..in time everyone will learn :)

and yet again, once dinner started..they just simply simply couldn't resist themselves...

It's like there's this very strong attractive force about that little karaok tv screen and mic..

So well had dinner..and talked quite a lot..

This rotarian came over to our table and kept asking us to sing on stage..I was like.. o.O noo..thank you..no thanks..

Then club president's wife asked us 3 exchange students to go around the tables to Yam Seng with the other rotarians..

So we did..but ours fruit juices only lahh. :)

and there was this rotarian..I think he was pretty drunk already..his face was flushed red and when we went to him..he was telling Pedro..holding up his glass of wine..

'This is wine..goood..you..tryy..goood gooood..'

My eyebrows went up and eyes widened o.O HUH? Did he just give us permission to drink?

While my eyes went as big as goftballs, Pedro seemed delighted :P lol

While on exchange we have a few basic key rules we have to follow..

We call it the 4 D's in Malaysia..

1. No Drinking

2. No Driving

3. No Doing Drugs

4. No Dating

But in Taiwan there are two others..

5. No body art/tattoo-ing/piercing

6. No watching and downloading of porn

So yes, according to the rules if we are found to have broken any one of these rules, we might be sent back home immediately.

Anyways..our bladders were like seriously full cause people kept coming over to yam seng with us..but towards the end of the night, I had to leave pretty soon so we took some pictures :)

Dorival, Pedro and Sayaaa

With Pedro's host sisters! They're really niiceee :) they'll be going for exchange next year too!

and club president's daughter, and ROTEX Wei Wei

District Governor's Visit- Singing Seafood Drinking Dancing Karaok

2008-08-27T14:14:00.010+08:00

Just so you know..I DIDN'T DO ANY of the above mentioned things =)

District Governor Bill was gonna sit in one of the Rotary Club of Wujih's meetings. Some of you might not understand what this really means..but okay..I'll try to explain..

Taiwan is seperated into several Districts, Districts 3460, 3470, 3480, 3490, 3500, 3510, 3520. Hence, Taiwan is known as Multidistrict Taiwan =)

I'm currently under District 3460, which covers Taichung area. And each district has a District Governor, and he's responsible for everything that happens in his District and needs to co-ordinate between other Districts as well.

So, District Governor Bill, would travel around Taichung, visiting each Rotary club to interview them and ask about what they would be doing in this Rotary year and discuss for possible plans, projects etc.

So, when District Governor Bill comes to one of our meetings, we do not have it like we do ordinarily at this hall above a kindergarthen :P They had it at one of the Rotarian's (Wasabe's) restaurant..have lots of food and karaok-ing.

I thought it would be a good time to give the stuff I've brought from Malaysia to Rotarians as well since all of them will be there and it's a sorta of formal ceremony anyways. So..I had lots of do..wrapping gifts for the Rotarians..there were almost 30 of them.

My host sisters were very kind!! They helped me wrap the gifts and we were done in less than an hour.

YES ANDREW. WE WERE WORKING. I REPEAT.

MY ROOM ISN'T LIKE THAT ALL THE TIME! TOTALLY CLEARED AFTER WORKING.

Anyways..the dinner..

We were there at around 6pm and well we didn't have to wait too long. DG. Bill gave a long long long long long long long long speech in Mandarin and campur-ed a lot of Hokkien in it. I got lost after a while..maybe understoof like 30% of it? lol

District Governor and his wife

GIFTS time =)

Presenting Rotary Club of Damansara's club bannerette to DG Bill + some goodies from Malaysia

+ wife

Gifts to Club President Life and wife...he reminds me a bit of a Cantonese drama serial actor..

And to my host counselor, Teeth Chen the dentist! He likes bowing a lot..but very nice guy =)

And..the gifts my host sisters and I wrapped for all the Rotarians =)

They have this monthly birthday celebration where they celebrate August babies' birthdays all together at the end of the month. They usually have this huge ass cake with so much cream on top you'll feel 10 kilos heavier after eating a slice of it. But nope..I didn't take it..lol. Didn't dare to actually..

After birthday celebrations..food finally caaaammmeee..and seriously..they just can not wait..as soon as the second dish came...

KARAOK FIESTA~!

and before you know it..the whole Rotary Club's on stage singing..seriously..they're super sporting and semangat!!

and it was the ladies' turn..they were welcoming the new Rotarian..and singing again..

and this is just something you DO NOT find Rotarians in KL doing...seriously, only in Taiwan and Taiwan only...

....

..........

................

........................

.....................................

GELEK GELEK HUGO AGO-GO DANCING SOMEMORE!!!!

you have to give it to them..

They've got guts!!!

Ohyes..and I helped host mum with more housework todayy!!

Swept the whole house..3 floors!!! and brought clothes out to dry :) and followed her to the supermarket.. :D

First weekend, Pushin Ranch

2008-08-25T13:58:00.015+08:00

First weekend in Taiwan! Didn't do much on Saturday..the same old same old..but on Sunday we finally did something out of the daily routine! =) I was insanely glad to get out of the house! =D

We were all up by 4:30am in the morning cause we were going to send Linda off at the airport and it takes like 2 whole hours to get to the airport. We were all pretty groggy still as we helped load the car with Linda's stuff and climbed into the car..and once we were on the road..us girls all knocked out again..

Poor host dad was the only one up driving..at least I hope he was.. =/ at some point I was awake..I heard him singing to himself to keep himself awake..

We finally reached Taoyuan International Airport..parked the car and found the check-in counter. They do it rather differently over here..they have 3 counters open but you can check-in your bags for 3 different flights..So..all you need is one sleepy person behind the counter and you might as well bid farewell to your baggage =P

You have no idea how long we were at the check-in counter! Linda had one large red suitcase, one small black rollerbag thing, and one sling bag. Host mum insisted on checking-in both suitcases, but that came up to almost 30kg which is 10kg above the max weight they allow. They were going to charge them $800 (RM80) per kg over the limit.

That's RM800 lehh!!

I suggested that Linda hand carry the small black rollerbag onto the plane cause well..

1. it's small

2. it's pretty heavy and if you take that out you don't have to pay so much for certain
but I don't know.

.host mum didn't really take my suggestion well and well we were stalled at the counter for a while..I just kept politely suggesting to whoever was listening and then second host sis, Wendy heared me and suggested it to the mum..and so host mum then decided to FINALLY take the black rollerbag out.

It was still overweight by about 5 kg and the guy at the counter was going to charge them..I was going to suggest that Linda show them her proof of her exchange trip and do what we did =P beg. hey..we got away with 26 kg suitcase checked-in and 10 kg handcarry =P without paying anything extra okay!
But since she didn't take my suggestion about the handcarry well..I was like..hhmm..better keep quiet =P

Anywayssss..in the end had to pay the extra few hundred bucks..

Linda and family..

Since we were already in Taipei, host parents thought of bringing me somewhere..

They brought me to

PUSHIN RANCH

Pushin Ranch is sort of a farm, but it's commercialized and diversified like how we study in Geography with Mrs. Mathew =P So basically it is a farm, but it allows visitors and they have things like 'Buy Milk to Feed the Piglets!' kinda thing..and you can rent bicycles to cycle around the place..it's sort of a big garden as well with scenery and stuff.

Host dad..ahem

They had horse back riding, coaches etc..for a fee
Little kids playing football in the field =)

Youngest host sis, Elaine

2nd host sister, Wendy

The standard Taiwanese pose man =P

I'm not sure why they have this at the ranch, but it looked like quite a nice place to take pictures..so we parked our bicycles at the side and walked for a bit

First host family in Taiwan =)

Host dad was like..yeahh..you know if you stay under the sun too long here in Taiwan..you'll *uses pointer and bends it* die.. lol

So here we are..under the shade..so we wouldn't shrivel up or die of heatstroke

We were a liikkkklllleee bored =P..need I say more?

hahahhahahahahah =P

And they had these obstacle courses thingiieess.. some of them were pretty tiring especially when you're laughing and trying to swing from tyre to tyre =P

But..I made it to the end.. =P with rather bright red shiny palms =P

One week

2008-08-23T23:08:00.000+08:00

I've been in Taiwan for almost a week already..

many people have been asking...

how are you?

are you adjusting?

do you miss home?

I'm fine thanks =) Have to say I've been better though. Like I said..stuff with the host mum. Oh. some might not know..but yes.. =P

I'm adjusting alright..felt homesick at the start and with nothing much to occupy myself with..I think about home quite a bit. We don't go out much and we're not allowed to go out ourselves..I guess maybe it might not be that safe..I don't know..ask boss =P skin's not too well though, I must say..getting worse by the day.

YES OF COURSE I BLOODY MISS HOME. lol I've never been away from home that long without any friends I know or relatives..well I'm making friends here..my youngest host sis, Elaine is awesome =) She might only be 12..and at first I thought I might not get along well with her..but she's pretty easy to get along with and pretty matured.

Anyways haven't been doing much lately..spending time with host sisters..trying to get my visa done but failing miserably due to awesome Taiwanese bureaucracy. They need this and that and this and that in this and that certain way and this and that certain form. Kepala pening seriously. But I should be getting it done this Monday.

Linda's leaving for Malaysia tomorrow..so I've been helping her out with packing and stuff too and a little bit of Malay lessons..although she didn't seem too interested. but I suppose she'll have to learn when she gets there..everything she's gonna study is going to be in Malay =P

Have to be up at 4:30am tomorrow morning o.O

Gifts! and 1st Rotary Meeting

2008-08-21T11:58:00.011+08:00

I brought some gifts for host family members..something rather Malaysian =)

For host dad and host mum, I brought them sarongs..and taught them how to wear them..it was pretty funny. lol

and for host sisters, some handbags and Malaysian pewter keychains.

This pewter Twin Towers for host dad as well..and a pewter toothpick holder with an orang utan

For host mum..these rather Malay

Pewter stuff are obviously not real real pweter..I'm not that filthy rich..

Not too badly tied don't ya think? =P The pattern's actually in front in a line! had a bit of trouble with it while in KL

Youngest Host sis, Elaine- she's awesome (host dad behind trying to tie the sarong =P)

Host sisters, Linda and Wendy

Me and Host mum in sarongs

Malaysian enough?

Tuesday night was Rotary Club of Wujih's meeting and I had to attend. Had to introduce myself and present some things to the club president.

I was invited to sit in front with President, Life(sells insurance) =P and Lawyer, the guest speaker. They have rather odd nicknames they give themselves. Cement (works in contruction), Polylon(owns a packaging factory), CNC(factory also), Teeth(dentist), Implant(not plastic surgeon..not sure what he does), Apple(deals with computers), Wasabe(owns a chain of Jap restaurants)

At first when I saw their names I thought they were VERY VERY VERY STRANGE. lol. But then I looked at their professions, then I'm like..OOOOOHHHHHHH..i SEE. lol

Rotarians here are very very semangat it's like when the President says..Good evening everyone..how is everybody doing?

Everyone..everyone chorus back in reply..GOOD! and it's not a slow..gooooddd..like how we greet our teachers in the mornings..I was pretty impressed by how meetings are conducted in Taiwan and how interested, warm and friendly rotarians here are.

Anyways I had to give a short speech in Mandarin o.O Went pretty okay..they were quite impressed that I could speak Mandarin at all..it was short..but they understood what I was trying to say..so I'm happy =)

Giving a short Mandarin introductory speech

President, Life introducing and welcoming guest speaker, Lawyer and myself

Presenting Rotary Club of Damansara's bannerette to President Life

and a little something we shopped for ourselves =) when I unrolled the thing..everyone was like..WWWOOOOOAAAHHHH..I was like..lol..ookkkaaayyyy people..just a flag thing..no need to get so excited...

And this one..I'm not sure what we were laughing at..but I was having difficulty trying to explain some important landmarks to everyone and might have said something wrong =P

So that was pretty much it..can't wait for next rotary meeting =) like I said rotarians here are such such nice people! =D

Greetings from TAIWAN!

2008-08-18T15:02:00.015+08:00

TAIWAN TAIWAN TAIWAN!!

lol

Reached the Taoyuan Airport around 8:10pm last night. I had quite a bit of trouble trying to get my can-fit-a-dead-body-size suitcase off the baggage claim belt thing and onto my trolly. Seriously felt like I was trying to lift a whale.

But luckily somehow managed to =P and it was off to the Departure Hall! I immediately spotted my Chinese name printed in like font size 300 + bold mounted on a cardboard being waved around among the sea of unrecognizable faces. Spotted my host family and a few others so I pushed my trolley to the end to meet them. Each of my host sisters waved furiously at me with big big smiles on their faces, they came up to me welcoming me to Taiwan and proceeded to place garlands of flowers around my neck. Felt a little Hawaii-ish. Hahaha.

Anyways, met a few of the rotarians from the Rotary Club of Wu Jih and took a group picture.

We headed out and it was a 2 hour drive back home. We stopped by for dessert :P YUUUMMM

Soya bean dessert..First dessert =)

We talked for a bit when I got home and had tea..then it was off to shower and then stayed up a little to unpack and then tried to sleep..it was almost like 1am? But lay in bed quite a while..couldn't sleep..so needless to say I'm feeling pretty drowsy now..and it SO BLARDY HOTTT ZOMG. I feel like lying on the floor naked..hahahhahaha but yes, it's like being baked alive.

Finally fell asleep after tossing and turning in bed for quite a while..I suppose it's because

it's a double bed, not used to all that space
it's freaking hot, I have the aircon on and I'm lying there in my T-shirt and shorts and I'm still being sitr-fried
I'M MISSING HOME AND EVERYONEEE :(

Finally managed to..but woke up exactly at 4:44am to find that the sun was already up! So early! I almost jumped out of bed cause I thought it was almost 8am already and I was late. My host sister, Wendy had to report to Chiao Tai High School and collect school uniform etc 7:45am.

Anyways visited the school and WOAH. It's huge. Chiao Tai High School is about 10 minutes away from home. Takes longer in the morning cause of the usual peak hour traffic.

Went to see the principal of the school and he and one teacher tried to explain to me the things I'll be doing. I'm quite looking forward to it! I can take up Japanese classes, Beautician courses, Fashion Designing or F&B training where I learn to cook and even bartend! :P Pretty neat huh?

But I suppose all great things comes with a price. The school is very strict with discipline. They have these military teachers who are dressed in all green uniform. They maintain order and discipline in the school. But yes, I'm not allowed to wear earrings, have to take out my nose stud, and they don't allow perms, my host mum has asked me to straighten my hair.

OH well. What to do?

Anyways after school we went to pick up Elaine from school and went for lunch together! My first Taiwanese lunch! Pictures later

Host sisters,
Wendy, and Elaine, and Host mum

Up up and away!

2008-08-17T01:52:00.002+08:00

I've just finished very very last minute packing, it's like almost 2 am now and I'm freakishly tired.

I'm actually already feeling homesick, though I'm still here. =P Everything's just gone past WAY too fast..and this moment I've been waiting for, for 3 years now, doesn't seem like what I had expected it to be like.

Anyways..thought I should pen down something to kick start this dead blog..my purpose of keeping this thing alive isn't really for attracting readers or anything..just want to keep track of my time there. Knowing how great my memory is, I'll probably forget like everything before I come back =P

No, I'm Not Dead.

2008-02-02T10:23:00.001+08:00

Yes, I'm still quite alive. But I've been busy like anything since..the last time I updated?

SSSSOOO many things happened since the last time I posted!

1. Student council election and results

2. First student council meeting

3. Horrible presentations and groupwork (Actually I don't even want to talk about it anymore :( )

4. Selling CIMP T-shirts!

5. Test Test Test..Assignments Assignments and MORE Assignments!

6. First CIMP Theme Day for this semester (CIMP T-shirt Day)

7. Planning of fundraisers for Valentine's Day!

So, firstly..

1. Student Council election and results

taken on CIMP T-shirt day!

It honesly felt as if it was gazillion years ago.

Our assembly on Friday was the day we were supposed to make our campaigning speeches.

Needless to say I was nervous till the end of time. Not that I've never given a speech in front of an audience..but it's a totally different crowd and I was honestly afraid that it wouldn't appeal to this crowd as it would back in elc! (well okay, maybe it didn't appeal to some people..)

But anyhow, we all decided to skip our Malay class to attend the assembly, Leon, Regina, Cherry, Carmen and I were suppose to go for Malay class at 8:30am. Ms. Bee Fung was going to 'exempt' us from assembly to attend the class. I was like..NO way in hell.

We were told to prioritize..and we did. So there we were at the assembly :P

Anyhow..I was insanely glad when my speech was over..then it was just waiting for the results.

I know this is a little late, but..

CONGRATULATIONS

to all who made it into the student council!!

President : Tham Tse Leng
Vice Presidents : Kenzie K. & Sabby B.
Publicity Reps : Semir M. & Niniek S.
Treasurer : Gabriella K.
Secretary : Jessica W.
2nd Sem Rep : Leon L.
1st Sem Rep : Amanda L.
General Members : Cherry L., Jeng S., Suyin C., Eunice W., & Ali R.

I honesly did not expect the post. There were just too many strong candidates with very very appealing and convincing speeches running for the same post!

But really..like a few others, I was really hoping that Hao Wei, Andrew and Danielle made it into student council..we quite shocked that they weren't even GMs.

2. First Student Council Meeting

Our first meeting was really short..just a few words from Mr. Boucher and then it was off to Pyramid for J.Co. Doughnuts! *yummy!*

Photo Credits to Niniek and thank you for sending me back, Kenzie + Viv!

CIMP T-SHIRT DAY!

I was so so so so happy that many many many people wore their CIMP T-shirts! :)

And quite a lot of people turned out for the photoshoot!! not many people knew about it..but we were pretty amazed by how many people we managed to round up at the last min :P

more a little later..

Student Council Elections

2008-01-17T21:11:00.000+08:00

VOTE TSE LENG FOR PRESIDENT!!

and Kenzie and Andrew and Sabby for V.President! (I know this isn't really possible, but still!)

and Niniek for Publicity Officer!!

and Leon for 2nd Sem Rep!

Thank God It's Friday

2008-01-11T21:17:00.000+08:00

PHEW. It's been such a hectic week, I'm so glad it's finally the weekend!

I really had a hard time deciding about Calculus. Mind you, I have lost quite a lot of sleep over it. I've only take Calculus in hopes that it would get me into Melbourne U. And I foolishly thought that I would be able to cope with Year 12 Calculus, despite the fact that I have no pure math background and have over the years developed a phobia for maths.

After 2 classes of Calculus with Ms. Najjar, I finally decided that i would drop Calculus. Namely because:

I was lost even when they were doing only "Review for Essential Skills" Imagine how much more lost I would be when we start getting into the real syllabus.

The only reason why I took Calculus was to do Commerce in Melbourne U. I need Calculus.

If I were to enter into Melbourne U., I would have to get in through a scholarship since I would need to spend 3 years in aussie in comparison with twinning at Monash. With Calculus, I doubt I'll be able to get a scholarship, hence making the whole reason of taking Calculus redundant.

I HATE maths.

I could have tried to survive in Calculus, but if I wait longer, and finally drop it only after a few weeks, it would be too late to start a new subject, which means, I would be short of one subject of graduating. I can't afford to stay another semester as I'm going off on my exchange trip.

Speakin of the exchange trip, I attended my second orientation the other day on the 8th. There was also a welcoming dinner for the Korean Inbound Short Term Exchange students and their Host families. It was a much better orientation as compared to the last one in my opinion.

Rui Yang, Nora, Daniel (I can't say this too many times, but love the red hair! Bring it back!!), Tse Leng

Photo Credit to Rui-Yang!

We, the Outbound Long-term Exchange Students plus Rui-Yang, Inbound Long-term Exchange Student from Switzerland have become closer after the first orientation, though almost everyone's leaving like next week! Nora's leaving on the 16th for Germany, Seeta and Daniel are leaving on the 17th for Switzerland.

All the best and a safe trip to you guys! Keep in touch!

And then it was bad news. I was suppose to leave for Tokyo on the 27th July 08. But some bum in Japan decided that he/she does not fancy coming to Malaysia anymore, so now, I can't go to Tokyo. T.T

So yes, that's how my crappy first week went.

by the way,

I'm thinking for running for Student Council

Should I wake up sooner

Or should I continue pursuing?

Christmas Eve

2008-01-02T15:56:00.000+08:00

Believe it or not, this was my first year, in MANY years, that I've been out celebrating Christmas Eve. Sad, I know. But yes, I had TONNNEESSS of FUN though!!

Mandy. Me. Christmas Tree our Host.

We had a little BBQ get-together at Andrew's place on the 24th. I seriously thought if I wore contacts my contact lenses would have melted and glued on to my eyeball, so I didn't. Until I saw Mandy with her contacts on, I was like eh? I felt like an idiot.

Carmen. Me. Chris. Leon. Kien Wei. Andrew.

Anyhhhoowww..it was really really sweet of Andrew and Chris who drove all the way from Andrew's place-I-forgot-where (but it's heck far!), crossing the crazy Christmas Eve jams to Bangsar to pick me up. Thanks guys! I owe you guys one..or two :p We got back to Andrew's place only at 8pm, but everything else from there kinda just flew by me. Like I said, time flies when you're having fun!! ^^

PS: Beef meetballs are fugging yummy barbequed!!! If you ever have a barbeque, don't forget the beef meetballs!!! Screw fishballs..beefballs are waaaayyy better :P

Makan!! My favourite part :P

I know what you're thinking Mi, this isn't what it looks like. It was just sparkling juice. I swear.

I'm sorry I didn't eat your chicken wings, Andrew. I was seriously super full to the brim, and sticking that stubborn chicken limb through that stick is just too much work for me :P

After makan-ing for a good few hours, we went to the park, played murderer. And that was how Andrew Tong, died.

No la. murderer. The card game thing. Thank god we didn't play the winking version. Believe it or not, I'm one of those who can't wink. I can't snap either.

Shaddup.

Mandy sent me home around 11:30pm, I felt so pai-seh la, she had to send me all the way into that god-forsaken place that I ive in. But thanks a bunch Mandy!!

And..Thanks for a great night guys!! ^^

Picture credits to Mandy Teoh! Thanks a bunch!! and thanks again for sending me back that night!! ^^

A New Year, A Fresh Start.

2008-01-01T17:12:00.000+08:00

Another year, gone. Cograts mates! We've pulled through yet another year! **

WWWWOOOOHHHHOOOOO

Time has been flying past ssoo fast lately that I sometimes still think that it's 2006. And it just seems like yesterday that I left my tretched is that a word? torturing chinese governemnt primary school of mine, and entered elc.

Before I could remember the year we were in, it was a new year, and a newer and newer and newer, and voila! Here we are, all grown up in college.

Overall, 2007 has been a great year.

We pulled through a whole year of exams in Year 11

We survived the grueling month of O'levels

Graduated from elc *whoot whoot

Started college

Went trekking for the first time *the real deal

Bid farewell to a dear friend who left for a better place

!Received O'level results!

Made a bunch of very awesome friends!

Survived first semester of college

Worked for Cartoon Network

Slaved for Choc L'Art

Finally organised a reunion for elc class of 2007

Got my lazy butt out to celebrate on Christmas Eve

Went on a real holiday finally in a whole year

Got together with elc friends to celebrate New Years Eve!

What can I say? Time flies when you're having fun :) thanks for a great year guys!

So, I'd like to wish everyone a very

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! ^^

HA! That'll help me remember the year. XD

Best wishes to you and your family! :)

lookin' forward to another smashing year!

I'll be one year closer to being legal XD

Season's Greetings!

2007-12-29T11:32:00.000+08:00

Merry Christmas :)

Been quite busy lately, selling chocolates, spending time with my cousins from Singapore and the little holiday to Port Dickson. I know it's almost New Years, and 'Merry Christmas' is a little late, but I was stuck in PD for three nights without internet..not saying it wasn't fun though XD

Anyhow, back when I was selling chocolates with Choc L'Art, my days were pretty standard and not to mention, boring.

My days will begin at 7:10am, with the annoying alarm tune from my phone (I have to set an annoying one, or else I'll just sleep through the alarm :P) Brush up, shower, breakfast, the norm.

Then it's off to work at 9:00am.

I'll enter Bangsar Shopping Centre, thugging my tired self towards the stall. The thing I hate most, is the on-going Christmas carols they play. They're not the versions I fancy really, and they play the few songs..over and over and over again and again. I could almost explode listening to those few tracks being played continuously for 6 solid hours every fugging day. TAK BOLEH TAHAN!!!!

Opening the stall isn't that bad, I have to take the cloth down and place everything up nicely on display. And on my unlucky days, (which happened to be most of the time) I would have to count stock. Meaning, counting every. single. chocolate.

I work alone most of the time, so I usually ease my boderm by offering chocolates to anyone who passes by. And yes, I do steal the chocolate samples, and before you condemm me, hear me out.

At the start, I refrained from touching the chocolate samples. (I don't like it that much anyways..it's mint chocolate) My shifts are from 10am to 4pm. 6 hours. Alone. I don't get to leave the stall, hence, no lunches. There was one day when I almost felt like fainting. Amanda came by and pointed out the irony of me having low blood sugar level, while working at a stall selling chocolates.

So after a while, I was like heck. I can't eat anything, and I'm not suppose to eat at the stall, I guess I'll just have to sneak some of the chocolate samples :P

The thing I love most about this job, is the CASHIER!!! I have always been fascinated with cashiers since I was little, and I was ssssssoooo excited that I would get to operate one!!

Anyhow, I don't think this chocolate-selling business is a good job. I'm really sorry to those whom I've pulled into this job, I sincerely thought that it would be quite a good one.

I mean, they pay us WAY too little. It's like RM 4.50 per hour with 1% commission. ONE FREAKING PERCENT! I worked my ass off so hard the other day, I managed to sell RM 1300 worth of chocolates within my shift on a weekday, mind you, and what did I get? RM 13 worth of commission. What the bomb.

I spoke to people working at the L'Occitane stall opposite me, they get RM 30 bonus if they manage to hit RM 1000 worth of sales. and this is for the WHOLE DAY. And we were told that we would get 20% staff discount if we were to purchase anything, in the end, she gave us only 10% off for the fruit cakes and 15% off for the chocolates.

So my point is, DON'T WORK FOR CHOC L'ART.

especially if you're looking to earn some substaintial amount of money. It's a total waste of your time.

But on the bright side, I managed to escape work a little earlier than expected..my cousins, aunt, uncle and grandparents from Singapore decided to visit! So I took off work earlier to send time with them :)

Anyhow, meet my cousin,

RACHEL TEOW

She's superbly tall, competes in Nationals as a high-jumper, is crazy about hippo stuff toys.

I had loads of fun bringing her around KL, we brought the whole family to The Curve, Mid Valley, One Utama etc etc. My aunt LOVES shopping :P

I'm feeling really sluggish now, so I think I'm going to watch a movie, btw..you can now watch movies off the internet! HERE

Happy New Year in advance everyone!!

Best wishes from the klutz.

I know I still haven't posted about Christmas Eve etc etc etc

But I will get to it..someday

Here, we meet again

2007-12-17T21:34:00.000+08:00

elc Class of 2007 reunion, 15th December 07, The Curve

Most of us have not seen each other for almost 6 months. It may seem like a short time, but when you're used to seeing these bunch of people everyday for the last 5 years, 6 months, actually feels WAY longer than it actually is.

I'm glad that we had the reunion, a big thanks to all who came, and also to those who wanted to come, but couldn't make it in the end. Needless to say, our 22-seater table was the largest and the noisiest table in the whole of TGIF. It was great catching up with everyone :)

Anyhow, here are some of the pictures from that night -

While waiting for people to arrive, I stumbled across this thing. Not quite sure what it is. xD

As usual, people were late, so others had tons of time taking pictures :)

Mohana and Mridula

BernIE!!! and Cassandra

Ms. Uplands and Ms. Taylors

Brandon, Arif and Boon. lol. Love Brandon's poses

Take One: Aris, Andrew and Brandon

Take Two: Aris, Andrew and Brandon

Aris, Peter, Raynor

swt.. -____________________________-''

It was also Qarrem's Birthday!! He had to stand up on the chair (no, it was still in-tact after this) and sing us a song. Guess what he sang... Akon's Smack That

-________________________________________-''

It's just SO him.

Sahil, Reuben, Birthday Boy

Qarrem, Aris and Andrew

This is like the next 'Happy Couple' picture XD

The vegetarians of the night, Priya and Sahil

Aisha and Brandon

Throughout dinner was filled with chatting and outbursts of laughter as we share our college experiences and recall our good old days in elc.

Dinner was awesome. As it was getting late, we called for the bill, and that was when the nightmare began.

Paying the bill, was as expected, INSANE. We took ages..some of us even found time to take pictures :P

The bill came up to RM 596.05

Some people ended up paying much more than required since SOME people, didn't pay the taxes etc etc.

Big thanks to Qarrem, Arif and Andrew for forking out more money to help cover the bill. *appluase*

Finally after settling the bill, we went outside for a little camwhoring session =P

Sunway buddies! Andrew and I. No, he isn't that short, he just likes mocking me of being slightly vertically challenged.

The guys! Qarrem, Sahil, Arif, Reuben, Boon

Myself and the Brain

Andrew and I again

I honestly, do not really remember what this was all about.

A night to remember :)

Photo credits to Mohana and Arif! Thanks a bunch ^^

Absent

2007-12-17T18:54:00.000+08:00

It's been ages since I last blogged!! I was working at Pyramid, then fell sick, then got better, and started work at Bangsar again..so yes, been pretty busy lately.

Besides work, I managed to find time to organise a reunion for our elc friends! More than 20 of us turned up! I think it went quite well :) we had a huge dinner at TGIF, The Curve.

Ordering was not as horrendous as I imagined it would be, but paying the bill was INSANE.

I had to fork out almost 20 bucks extra because someone did not pay their share. But overall it was awesome! Will post up pictures soon!

It was also Quarrem's birthday, so we sang him a song and everything. Most of the girls left around 9:45pm, but I stayed till almost 10:30pm with the guys. They played pool and fusbal and we later went to some bar/restaurant (i think it's called a bistro?) The guys had a round of drinks, I sat innocently only taking two sips from Sahil's. :P

Anyhow, work has been not too good either, haven't been having lunches throughout the week. As a result, I've lost almost 2 kilos. I'll be working till christmas eve, so please do come and visit me! I'm supa bored on weekdays.

OH. and got my results the other day! quite quite happy :) 85%, 94%, 97% !!!

Trip Down Memory Lane

2007-12-04T16:52:00.000+08:00

I feel like I have too much time on my hands. I have one day off from work and I already feel bored. But damn! It feels good to be bored =D

I slept off most of the day, cause I'm dead sick.

I'm coughing, sneezing, sore-throat-ing..everything. thanks to my 24/7 noseblock, I can't taste much of the food I try to shove down my throat, I've pretty much lost my appitite. Yeah..amazing right? tseleng losing her appititte...what has the world gotten to??

Anyhow, seeing I have some extra time on my hands, I was looking through my photos and really started to miss my elc days all over again. boohoo. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't like college, college is awesome, so much more freedom as compared to elc, but really...it's not the same at all. I MISS ELC!! T.T

Anyhow, here's the last thing I had to do with elc...

My little moment of pride

This was in the Star and New Straits Times a while back, been meaning to scan it in..but I think I've lost my printer/scanner's CD thingyy..

Our last Sports Day 2007 was a very memoriable one..especially since RED HOUSE WON!!! XD

Arif, Peter and I

I was also super duper nervous since I had to lead the whole march past! Throughout my five years in elc, I've always marched alongside my beloved house :) marching totally alone and right in front, was indeed very very very different. Esp when, if my timing is out, I would then screw up the entire school's march past! But thankfully, everything turned out okay :)

Our tiny mascots

The Red House Cheer :)

Tug of war! I think we got 2nd.

Mri, Johnathon, Divya, Arif, Myself, Ryan, Bern and our anchor, Matthew.

Our Tug of War Team

That would be almost the whole of Red House =D after our Victory Lap

Next post: Another thing I've missed quite a bunch, is the Prefects =D really really miss those awesme, eventful prefect camps we used to have!!

Can We Stop Time, Please?

2007-11-29T20:58:00.000+08:00

Just got back from college. After work, Niniek and I went back to college with the help of Viv and Kenzie, for the Year-end Maths Party thing. The movie was super funny and disturbing at the same time, but the company was really nice. Though not many people turned up, there were a few people from each class. Mr. Murphy ordered pizza for us, watching him order them from Dominoes is the most hilarious ever!! He made the lady so confused!! lol! he ordered like a truck-load of stuff, so the lady was even more frustrated when she had to repeat the whole order! lol! funny stuff! Surprisingly, we managed to finish like 8 or 9 pizzas. lol.

Something happened when Mr. Murphy and some guys went to collect the pizza from the foyer. This girl was walking down the staircase when she accidentally slipped and fell. They think she hurt her back and they had to call an ambulance. Poor thing, I hope she'll alright. I once hurt my back and had to call an ambulance too. They didn't know the way to my house. -_-''

We took a group picture together, hoping to get that up sometime XD

Anyhow, I finally got the pictures of our last econs class from Niniek! *many thanks!!*

So..here they are!!

Mr. Michael Owen- our best econs lecturer ever! Caught doing the Chicken Dance XD

Love this picture! Super complete!! CIA 4U period 4!

Lianne, Tse Leng and Mr. Owen!
Where are you looking Lianne?

LOL! I asked Mr. Owen for a funny face, he gave me a constipated face. XD

Don't you just feel like reaching out and plucking my eyes out? They're too round for anyone's good.

Sook Ping, Lianne, Tse Leng, Venny, Bo Kyung, Joji the Brain, and Citra

Mr. Owen and the girls of our class! There are only like 5 guys?

The 16-year-olds :) Jessica and I

Okies, well I better start on clearing my messy messy room. My mum's about to burst a blood vessel.

A Better Tomorrow

2007-11-28T19:01:00.001+08:00

Work today was much much much better! lol! Today was Dexter's Collage, I think it's waaayyy easier and more fun to do than the Fun With Baking thing.. at least with the Dexter's Collage, each kid would be occupied with their own artwork to begin with, so you don't have to find ways of entertaining these very picky picky children.

These three brother, John, Johnson and Johnny (? I think?) were around the same age, just maybe one year apart each sibling. They were all wearing the same clothes, so when I spotted them from far, I was like woah! Triplets?! The only other time I saw triples was when I was working at the Pooh Fest at Midvalley..they were ssssooo adorable!

Anyhow, these 3 brothes, I tell you, they have this HUGE thing for glitter. They not only hogged the three bottles of glitter on the table, they practically filled their ENTIRE collage with nothing but glitter. -_-'' needless to say, they emptied almost three whole bottles of glitter within an hour.

Anyhow, the day was pretty pretty tiring, had to walk around the whole day recruiting people to join the workshop..I felt like an annoying salesperson. I was shun-ed away by so many parents, not funny-lor. I can't stand how they don't even acknowledge you, like you know, say "No thanks" or at least a "No, dowan." NOTHING. They just walk away from you like you're thin air.

grr.

But but..I think I was quite fruitful today! I managed to get 11 kids to sign up!! lol. It was only Clayton, Niniek and I today, so we 'took turns' walking around the mall to hunt for kids.

Santa's Sleepy Little Helper

Anyhow, it was a better day, but damn tiring-lor.

Tse Leng BOLEH!

2007-11-27T21:04:00.000+08:00

I did it!! Survivied! Finally, exams are over!! lol.

I know..I only had 3 papers, but still, they were amazingly agonizing!! It was just so much to study in so little time!

I think I screwed up two questions for MDM, and as for English, I think I just blanked out for the essay question, but I hope everything turns out okay. *prays* Econs was the only thing I could safely say..'It was okay' :)

So overall..I guess it was fine! anyhow..I started work today after my econs paper, rushed to pyramid at like two and worked till around 5 something. Penat-nya! Met Andrew, Carmen, Asiff and Leon there at Pyramid.

It wasn't the greatest first day, I forgot my gloves, my cookie dough looked funny, a kid was arguing with another over the cookie they baked. Gosh. Kids!

Anyhow, will be working for the next week or so, so probably won't have much time to update. But as for photos, we took some mostly during our last MDM class with Mr. Murphy! We're going to miss him sssssssssooooo much!!

I was so touched when he teared while telling us that he was going to leave Malaysia, I never knew we meant so much to him. He has made MDM so much nicer a subject to study, and his classes are just the best-lah!

Last MDM class-

Mr. Murphy!

Amanda and Niniek

We can stand on stilts and still be shorter than him -_-''

I thought I felt something behind me...

Can't...reachh..!

Malini and Sabbi. (poser la you)

CIMPians!

Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil!

Cookie FIGHT!

Winner claims her prize.

GAH!

We do the make the best cross-eyed partners

MUAH

If you're wondering, no, this isn't what we usually do in class, it's just that it was our last MDM class with Mr. Murphy ever, we decided to have a little fun :)

We still did revision, exams were around the corner at this point of time.

Mr. Murphy showing us Matrices

Sabby and Mr. Murphy. Told you we were doing revision as well :)

Hard at work!! Teaching Niniek..was it z-scores? Thank your lucky stars Niniek! like 1/4 of the paper was on z-scores!

Best picture yet.

We're gila about susu-lah~!

Gonna miss him truck-loads!!

Still more pictures to come! Last Econs class with Mr. Michael Owen!!

Mati

2007-11-06T22:45:00.000+08:00

Exams are in 19 days!!!

I feel like mati-ing la.

I have never started studying for an exam that late. wait. I haven't even started yet!! I'm gonna dieeeeeeeeeee

So yes, I shall be a nerd for these next 19 days, so please do not tempt me with dinners or outings or movies or anything of that sort. I'm going to bury myself in my books and notes. Thank you.

Anyways, on a lighter note, I treated myself to a little break today! Had dinner with Arif and Sarah!! :) Niniek had the other half :P hahahahahahahah

I somehow managed to get myself stuck in 1utama at like 4 something when I'm suppose to meet Arif, Sarah and Andrew only at like 5:30 or 6. So guess what I did.

I sat at MPH. Like a loner, and read a book. :)

Yes. I had lots of time.

I read about the First Chinese Emperor (I think) who had this tomb built accompanied by 7000 life-size statues of generals, soldiers etc etc all with different facial characteristics and all! and how Pocahantas couln't have fallen in love with James Smith or whatever that white dude's name is because when she met him, she was only 12. =_='' paedophile!

Some parts were quite famillar, like the Gunpoweder Plot! We learnt that in History, i think it was year 8? Guy Fawkes!!

So I waited till Andrew and all came, then we went to makan :) TGIF. Yummy :)
Sarah had this Friday's Sundae which was quite big! With so much whipped cream that you could see nothing but whipped cream. lol.!

And here are some random photos:

Lunch with Regina, Lianne and Niniek at Delicious :) Excess chocolate sauce from the chocolate brownies! sinfully yummy ^^

Andrew with our laptops at the Inspirational Square! It's not really a square anymore, more like a rectangle?

Another Prom photo stolen from Gabby.
Tse Gabby Jessica Kai

Some fruit Dim Sum dish! A must try! uh. I don't even remember the restaurant's name. hehe. will find out

I love this photo. :P

Miss you loads

2007-11-03T21:45:00.001+08:00

It's been a few months, and almost close to half a year since kor left for Australia.

Early years

I feel like I haven't spoken to him in ages.and now that I just found out I might not be able to attend his graduation next year plus I was hoping to see him this December, but I've just checked out the flight charges and the cheapest I have found is RM2993 there and back. I doubt my dad'll fund my trip and I just have no time to work right now. 3000 bucks is a hell lot of money to me. and finding that kind of money isn't very easy. Now that visiting him this December also seems next to impossible, I feel like such a lousy sister.

When he gets back to visit next year, I'll probably be in either Japan or Brazil or somewhere far for a whole year. and if he decides to go back and do his honours, then he'll be back in Australia before I get back. This sucks, either way, I probably won't be able to see him for a long long long long long long long long long long long long long time.

A little more than a decade later...

Miss the times when you used to burst into my room at random times just to see what I'm up to..around that time I was usually studying and then we end up talking about how our elc days were similar, how much we love history and how much we dread physics. Well..at least I did. :P

Rong Hua and David's wedding

Long story short, I miss you loads kor!! Come back quick!

Anyone wanna contribute towards to the

"Bring Keat Home/Send Tse-to-Aussie Fund"?

please contact us at 1800-aussie-0552 :P

Smack In Your Face!

2007-11-02T08:20:00.000+08:00

Ever had something you thought you had known all along (but didn't take enough notice of it) smack you right square in your face? Well yes, that has been happening to me a lot lately, and I think it has gotta do with because (well as Regina says) I'm such a baby and I've been pretty much protected and sheltered my entire blinking life.

College has really been an eye-opener for me, I'm totally clueless when it comes to a lot of things. (Hey. I know where Bali is now, for sure) not just about those obvious things of course, about friends, relationships and all that mumbo jumbo.

I've been super duper uper busy these few months, particularly this month..cause we were so caught up in organising the CIMP Black and White 07 Prom :) which went surprising well despite the numerous technical glitches. (When we arrived at the ballroom, we were like woah. How in the world did we get this place for such a good price? Well, now we know =.=) The performances were pretty screwed up, not because of the performers, the performers were great! but the hotel's sound system was just, urgh, horrible.

Anyways, the day was super stressful. I was staying up late night before last (night before prom) doing my Pygmalion Discussion Questions, but was quite unsuccessful. and I had to do my econs homework and sew the sashes for Prom King and Queen, which they didn't even use in the end. What a waste of my effort la. I never never never sew. I sat at my table squinting my eyes trying to put the damn thread through the tiny hole. =.= needless to say i woke up the next morning with dark rings under my eyes. I was like, great, exactly what I need. Panda eyes for prom.

Then I went for my period 4 class even though I was allowed to miss it. But there was a change of plans so I thought I should attend class instead. Big mistake. I felt so tired even though we were just sitting there watching the presentations. Anyhow, after period 4 we left for Holiday Villa to start on decorations etc. Niniek and Vivian were already there cutting up cloth. Btw, the decorations were fantastic! It looked really nice! though I did tell Niniek, our centerpieces were looked a bit like those steamboat thingys. :P I didn't get a chance to really take pictures last night, which was a real waste, cause college prom comes only once a lifetime (unless I repeat the course, which I do not plan on doing :P)

Can't really comment on the food cause I didn't really eat much. I ate the potato salad thing which was the first dish, and got horribly full. It was just 3 freaking pieces of potato! =.='' anyhow, after eating a little Aaron and I went around to collect the Prom King and Queen ballots and went to the backroom to tally them. As I was tally each table's votes, I think I kept shaking my head (didn't mean to..but I do a lot of things without really meaning too lol) and Aaron kept asking what's wrong. lol. Nothing really. ;P I don't think I'm making much sense. This is what happens when you only sleep at 1:40am after prom and wake up at 7:30 in the morning.

The fire dance was awesome :) Though it would have been much nicer if the guy did the performance on the dancefloor so everyone would have been able to get a closer look. I tired taking a picture of it, but..

SO yes, wasn't really helpful. Lol. but after that was the announcement for Prom King and Queen and we all know who won. Niniek was urging Kenzie to steal viv at he first dance and he actually did! :) How sweet.

Prom King and Queen

and I swear, it was as if I had the words "Laugh at me" printed in bold across my forehead. I didn't mean to sound so stupid all the time, I was just partially deaf from all the loud music! :P and and..when I say.."Something really funny happened to me today, but don't laugh at me okay?" they ALL start roaring with laughter. some friends right.

Viv, Niniek, Regina, Lianne

Things started to liven up once the dance floor was opened. Next prom, please do open the dance floor earlier and knock the dj on the head if he keeps playing songs that clears the dancefloor. Back in elc, we used to have like 4 to 5 hours straight of dancing. Miss those days :) and and..this is the first time ever, despite the many proms and dances i've been to, this is my first prom where I never, for once in the entire night, take off my heels! Even when I was jumping and dancing like mad to "Pump It" :) Anyways it was a great night overall. (except a few things happened and really made me a little troubled. but besides that. It was awesome)

A picture with Ms. Ford :) I take horrible pictures =.=

Here are some picutes from Kenzie, Jessica and Alicia's birthday party at Souled Out :)

What did I tell you about me and taking pictures. lol

Divya Jessica

Michelle took a picture of me taking her :P

Amanda Michelle

Amanda Michelle Divya Jessica, our Birthday Girl!

boo. Divya'll probably say this is my best goldfish impersonation :)

Random post

2007-10-26T16:39:00.000+08:00

I just got back from Niniek's place..thank god for her or not I would have had to take the bus back..and that meant that I would only have reached home at 6:30pm!!

Gosh I swear she has tooooo many dogs (4 in total!!) in her house!! But but..they're sssooo cute! ^^They're almost like cats..they'll jump on top of couches and rest like a cat. lol.

Lugi lying on the backrest of the couch

That's a new way of nose picking :P

Nose-picking is an exhausting business!

Chloe likes sneeking up on people and licking their faces!

Gabby and I-canteen.

and and..

New glasses!!! :P my power increased again :(

Busy Busy Busy!

2007-10-26T13:03:00.000+08:00

It's the end of another hectic week and the weekend's finally here! :)

Every thursday we, students at CIMP sigh a big relief as we are done with a week's classes. But honestly, I don't look forward to weekends that much either...it just means that I have more work to catch up with =.= which is nonetheless sucky.

And next week..oh my god. I don't even want to think about it. It's a whole week of torture.

Monday- Econs test. (on the unit I hate the most...and honestly, for people who do know me, you guys probably know how much I love Econs, but really I just can't stand this unit AT ALL.)

Tuesday- Econs ISU presentation!! I haven't started working on my slides yet. I'm so dead. I finished my report though :) and and I have my English presentation outline due as well :(

Wednesday- Econs ISU report due. I've finished this, so I'm not that worried.

Thursday- Oh my god. This would either be a great day...or a super duper crazy ass day..those that'll make you wanna pull all your hair out. Prom's on this day. I'm helping out with the decorations so I'm prety much busy the whole day.

So yes.that's how my next week's going to be. Not very bright I predict. But oh well..let's hope things get better :P

Btw. I've tallied the nominations for Prom King and Queen! The list would be up on Monday :)

and Btw again..lol. the funniest thing happened this Thursday. Something so funny it sent me cracking up so bad I couldn't stand up straight.

We were at the prom ticketing booth. Regina, Lianne and I were about to go for lunch since we were dead hungry and I was day-dreaming of Pink's Nasi Lemak and Limau Ice.

Niniek was on duty so she was asking Mahdad if he would mind taking care of the booth while she came for lunch with us.

Niniek: So do you wanna do it? (looks at Mahdad)

*at this point Regina started chuckling already. Lianne and I were still pretty clueless.

Mahdad: Yeah sure.

Niniek: Are you sure you wanna do it? You sure you're okay with doing it?

*at this point, Lianne and I both got it and started laughing like mad. Niniek remained clueless.

Mahdad: Yeah. I'll do it.

*now I've collapsed against a pillar laughing my head off.

lol. We were so loud Ms. Trisha actually came out of the classroom to tell us off. Not one of my best moments..I've never been told off by a teacher because I was noisy. But really..the laughing was mostly Lianne and Regina since I have this weird habit of silent laughing. :P

But yes..after like two zillion years, Niniek finally got what we meant. THEN, she started laughing too. Her face was as red as elc shirt's collar.

Back In Action :)

2007-10-21T15:08:00.001+08:00

Yes! Tse Leng's blogging once again :)

yes for those who didn't know, I used to blog way back (not that far back, just stopped a few months ago) and then there were exams..and mocks...and o'levels..so I pretty much stopped. After my o'levels, I decided to continue...but. Stupid blogger deleted my tseleng.blogspot.com off the face of my dashboard.

KKNBC ( I don't even know what this means. but it's stands for some swear word/phrase in Hokkien or something. lol. picked it up some time ago. It's surprisingly anger relieving :p )

So yes, I'm currently enrolled in the CIMP (not CHIMP you doinks) Canadian International Matriculation Program at Sunway University College. I gotta say, although I always always always complain about the work load etc etc etc, I'm actually really lovin' it over here!!!

Besides college, nothing much is happening..although..on the note of the future..Rotary has finally contacted me!! (recently)

I'm going to...

BRAZIL !!!

Not Rio, but Minas Gerais..a place somewhere North-West of Rio.

Initially. Well Kirenjit just called me the other day to go for this Orientation at Holiday Villa KL, so I did. Freaking 9am to 6pm man. But I met so many amazing people!! I met inbound exchange students, Rui-yang from Switzerland, Yuichi from Japan and Alexis from Perth!! And of course outbound exchange students like myself, Daniel who's heading to Switzerland, Nora who's heading to Germany and some students going to Gujarat for a short-term exchange program. I also met really great ROTEX people who were a great help in telling us what to expect! Pictures up later. Hopefully XD Also. Looking forward to meeting you guys again!!

Long-term exchange students

And there..she (Kirenjit) told me that...I'm going to Japan instead!!

The land of the Rising Sun

lol. I asked for Japan initially, but then she thought I was 18 -_________-'' (I stated c l e a r l y in my forms that I was born in 1991, which makes me 17 when I travel) so she didn't look at Japan (they're strict with the whole age thingy) and found me a place in Brazil instead. But now..it seems..Japan's willing to take me in!!

Japanese Nightlife!

Amazing culture

And...the land of ANIME AND MANGA~~~~!!!!

So JAPAN HERE I COME!!!