I won't give up

Well, before I start off... I would like to say a big thank you to my cousin, Samuel Chu, for lending me his 2 elementary level grammar books and his 2 seasons of English drama series 'The Mentalist'!!! Before you are questioning about the grammar books and all these drama stuff, I will let you know in the first place that they are part of my ielts preparation. I took the ielts test twice, but I always got 6.5 for the writing and 7.0 for the speaking. So I hope they will provide some help in my coming test :) Although I am a bit... mind.... about the elementary level... my grammar is good ok!!!

Alright, I need to set up some schedule for my ielts preparation. Fighting! Fighting! Fighting!! (Hope I don't sound like too Korean :P)

I came across a bible verse after enjoying some of the Jayesslee's video in youtube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI9rPwl1KuM

Galatians 6:9 So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.

=) I won't give up!!!

God bless :)

hello blogger

Hello blogger! and hello to anyone who is still following me and reading my latest post. It has been a while since my last post which was about 2 years ago! I really have to admit that time really flies and I am getting older. Hello to the going-to-become-23 me and hello to the freshly graduated me! AHAH I just graduated from UWA *applause* :) It should be something that I should be proud of. But I..... sigh... feel like I am a boat floating on a deep blue sea with no navigation. Maybe I am a bit lost. I don't know where I should do or go next. But I truly believe my almighty God will always be here with me. No matter where I decide to go or do, he already has a plan ahead for me. He is just waiting for me to find it out myself, ask for it. Like a father who doesn't prepare everything for his children but to guide them, for them to learn about living a life. And that remind me of my parents, who don't always restrict me but in the mean time, guide me with invaluable advice.

Now I am facing with some predicaments. Should I or should I not taking the IELTS exams in order to apply for the PR application. The only requirement is I have to get all 8s in every section. I can see the $330 Aus cash notes flying off my eyes if I apply for it again. *Cha-ching*

God bless anyone who read my blog!

Haunted

Okay, as u can see from the title... I am really haunted by a feeling that since I'm gonna leave here soon, I don't have any 'heart' to do watever stuff at here. I don't really care what I am doing now, whom I am meeting with, where I am going. All I wanna do is pray for the time to pass quickly. This is terrible. It makes me to hate everything around me. Even the place I stay, my roomies, food in the dining halls....

Come on... I gonna be more energetic. Homesick is terribly attacking me now. Leave me alone!!

Trip to nowhere

OMG.. THERE IS SO MUCH DUST IN MY BLOG!! *phoo phoo phoooooo....*

Sorry, wanna do a little bit of housekeeping, hehe. I've abondoned this blog for more than 2 months. Time flies and today it will be exactly 2 months left for me to stay in LA.

Today, I have the happiest day since the day I came to LA. Not because I went to Disneyland/Universal studio or shopping in some fancy malls. But it's because I took 3 different bus agencies and 1 rail line to and from LA. This's partly for my assignment from my transportation class. And because of this chance, I learn to appreciate more of the efforts contributed by the transporatation engineers. It just doesn't sound simple to design a road and to take the considerations of minimum cost and maximum safety at the same time. Everyone uses road everyday but never in my life until today to realise that being an enginner can really change a human life. Yea, I can proudly say that engineers can change the world in the future... more precisely... it should be everyday..

I managed to drag a friend to tag along with me in this trip. We started our trip at 10.30a.m.. Initially we took the wrong bus which went to a different direction (We wanted to take Metro 720 to downtown but ended up in Santa Monica). But then, we found our way back (by taking Big Blue Bus 10) and thanks to the discussion the night before , we had quite a number of alternatives if we got lost halfway to the downtown.

When we finally got to downtown, we took a number of pictures in front of the specific building and then headed to Little Tokyo (by using DASH DD (Downtown Discovery)). We went to the famous Ramen restaurant, Daikokuya). By the time we reached there, we put our name in the waiting list ( we're in no. 45 and the current call no. was only 15!!!) We're so determined to wait although we're damn hungry since it's already afternoon (ard 12.45pm). After an hour or so, we got our seat and enjoyed the authentic Ramen.. *suuuuupppp... suuuuuuuppp.. suuupppppp*

After lunch, we went to look for a subway to get to Hollywood (since I want to get extra credit so we have to take a rail line) After 15 mins of getting lost and getting ourselves back, we found our way to the underground station (Metro Civic Center). The experince of taking subway was not as good as taking train in Perth. (We took Metro Purple and Red Line to reach Hollywood/Highland for 18 mins.) That's no doubt that once we reached Hollywood, we're attracted by the glamourous shops and streets (and we did a little bit of shopping XD). Just a ride from downtown, we got to a totally different place. The we got back to UCLA ( by taking Metro 2). It was 5.55pm.

I kind of have the feeling that the most developed a country can be, the most distinct the gap can be formed between the rich and the poor. Talking about Hollywood, it is only 2-3 blocks of areas that're full of glamor and excitement. But when u walked a few blocks down, it'ld be totally different. Homeless ppl rummaging the dustbins for food, sitting at a corner begging for money or food. So what is the big deal of being one of the coolest city in the world since the wellfare of the homeless ppl aren't concerned? I am sick of here. Looking forward to go back KK although it is not as fancy as where I am now. City life at LA doesn't suit me. I am very keen to preserve nature now. KK, u gonna wait for me to protect u.... hahahhaha

A very special thanks to my friend, Angelene, who is so kind to spare half of her day to finish this trip with me. It was so awesome =)))))))))))

My life as an exchange student

It was not as excited as everybody thought when I first arrived at Los Angeles. Maybe it is partly because I don't wana leave my family and freinds. When we(my mum, sis n me) arrived at the LAX(Los Angeles International Airport), we were welcomed by my sis friend (Rachel) and her uncle (Uncle Jaz).

The way from the airport to Uncle Jaz's home was so long to me. I kept thinking if I can really make it at UCLA(University of California at Los Angeles). Jetlag makes me so dizzy and uncomfortable but still we manage to stay until night then rest.

Can't really imagine time passes so fast. Look at myself, I'm already one month and 11 days at UCLA. And I still manage to survive XD. I would never forget that the 1st day of my uni was so messy. 1st of all, I duno how to walk from my dorm to the classroom. With an assistance of a map and my strange english accent, I managed to find my way to the class. Only at that time I just realised the lecture was 1 hour and 50 mins long T_T

The 1st thing I've done to my life: Stand out of my comfort zone, take initiative and talk to strangers. It's always like other ppl approach me 1st. But this time I make a difference to my life.

I still remember when I sat at the Bruin Cafe (One of the cafes on campus), I was sipping leisurely my 'Coffee bean and tea leaf' hot chocolate while having a quick reading at my lecture notes. But then there was a girl sitting next to me, eating something that looked so yummy. So my inner voice kept telling me that, 'c'mon, talk to her! Find out what that is!' So I relaxed myself a little bit and started talking to her. Our conversation went out pretty nice. Before leaving to my class, she asked for my number so that we would get dinner another time. It's not until my class finished then she texted and invited me to eat at De Neve(One of the dining halls). She even invited me to Santa Barbara to join a video-shooting camp.

Ok, seems so weird with this video-shooting camp right? Since Hollywood is in LA, one of the hottest courses in UCLA is movie-shooting. And she appears to be an assistant for the movie shooting students who arranges those shooting stuff and people. And the purpose of the camp is to teach some movie-shooting technics. Haha, imagine that I could probably meet those future directors of Hollywood movies.

But it ended up like... I didn't make it because due to those stupid assignments.. Now I kind of regret it. Yea, maybe I will ask her to invite me again next time.

If I was ever asked what the hardest part during my exchange life's at here, I would say it is kind of hard to meet new friends in my class. It seems like everyone already knew each others for a long time. And I was forced to fit in. Hate the feeling.. it was like a several times that my tears wana fall down in the middle of the class. The class is so long, stangers with high-pointed nose sit aound to me, every week assignments assignments.. It is only when I got here then I realise that Civil engineering is so hard. If I dun really try very hard at here, I'll definitely fail.. straight away with no doubts...

I know what the true meaning of 'miss' is now. When u dun get to see the ppl that u expect to see everyday, when u dun get to chat n talk to a person n get to know how she/he does everyday, the feeling makes u so.... I hate this feeling. It makes me so restless and weak. ' Do Everything, Regret Nothing' is what I found from the end of my exchange student's guidebook. It's time to see myself as an individual and conquer everything with the tiny little courages that can ever found from my soul... Once again, I tell myself, at least I'm not alone =)

During dinner, my fortune cookies read, 'Yes, do it with confidence!' then a bunch of weird number: 12 22 36 37 40.... *cough cough* I wonder what it's referring to..

Anastasia

I have been a useless person for the past few days. Watching korean drama from days to nights, sunrise till sunset. It is an extreme burden to my eyes. Yet I still have to recommend a very awesome korean drama :

This drama is a mixture of comedy+romance+superstar+angel's voice (their voices are really awesome!!) The story began with a girl who was on her way to Rome to pursue her dreams to be a nun. Her dreams started to be mixed up when a celebrity personal assistant came and claimed that there was a failure in her twins brother's facial operation. So she had to substitute her brother for a while to be a new vocalist in a current famous singer team A.N.JELL.(angel). HaH, and that began her journey of dressing up and acting as a guy. The fabulous part is all the theme songs are so niceee.... This drama is even better than the korean drama 'Boys over flower'.

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Later on, I just came across a Walt Disney movie that I shouldn't miss in my childhood : Anastasia. And wow! It gave me a goose bumps at the scene where Dimitri rejected the rewards of finding Anastasia from the queen. Awww, how touching is that.. when he rejected the rewards and straight away walked off from the queen. The queen asked, ''Why the change of mind?'' Dimitri replied,''It's more change of heart, I must go...'' And I noticed that this story ends with a special ending; Anastasia saved Dimitri instead of the usual classic fairytale of prince saving princess. How interesting is that... haha.. Maybe it wants to reflect that even gals can be stronger!

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How my childhood quietly ends and my adolescent and adulthood begins in subtle. How I miss all the fairytales which greeted me in every sunrise and kissed me goodnight when the night falls. I remember where I used to celebrate my birthday when I was young. I could choose any of the fastfood restaurants in which all of them took turns in subsequent year. But I forgot since when I stop celebrating my birthday in one of them. And this's human's weakest part: forgetful; always go after something fresh and new.

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How I celebrate my b'day tis year? it was on Monday and I hated it!!! Because I had to go uni T.T But I think I sort of celebrate it a day before it (sunday). Having lunch in a hong-kee restaurant, only to find out that someone was paying for my lunch as my b'day present(>.o!!) I thought that paying the bill for me was just his way of returning my money. But, when we went to karaoke, he paid for my drink again and explained that that lunch was my b'day present (swt o.o!!) Honestly, I was not complaining. Because, compared to the gifts I was about to receive the next day, I prefer that lunch better. At least the present lasted for about an hour and then digested. Haha.. and later on we went for dinner in Sizzler then home. And this was how I greeted the day I was born 20 years before: Sleepy and tired and with booming greeting messages when the clock strucked twelve....

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someone was too shy to sing me a b'day song...

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Tomorrow will be a great day again!! Drama! DRAMA! DRAma! my life is full of drama..(with my sis still having exams 2mr.. HAHAHHAHAHHA.......)

lalalala~~

I feel so relaxed right after the exam, can't imagine how I was so stressed yesterday. Yesterday was my sis, Cindy's birthday. We planned to go celebrate with 6 people: Khin & his gf, louise & her sort-of bf, me & my sis.... but it ended up with one going to a group meeting n another one gona stay at home to decorate the house for another fren's b'day the next day... So there's just two of us: me & my sis, going to a small japanese restaurant.

It's name is Sushi Station Fuji. The restaurant is so small & I dun think it can be regarded as a restaurant.. erm, maybe just station. Yet it makes me feel so warm. Like I have been walking all day long into a small village in Japan, hungry and exhausted. Then, suddenly I spotted a small house with soft lights reflecting through the window and there is a sign that reads: Welcome all travellers (in Japanese)... just like what I have been imagined in my childhood.. hehe..

Okay, I ordered a something that its name ends with bento & my sis got a terikayi udon. Mine was assorted with fried fish, teriyaki chicken, sashimi & miso soup & it's awesomeeeeeeeee!!!! dining in a not classy place but with great food made me so comfortable. With japanese songs playing in the background, we chatted happily like there is no more things to be worried. When the waitress came and asked how good it is, I could only replied her that the portion was too small (and I am still hungry ><). Next, we ordered a red bean mocha ice-cream & it's so awesome too.. haha. The dishes were quite expensive, but not as expensive as the Matsuri (a very fine restaurant in city).

It reminds me of Nishiki (my all time favourite). But its fried fish is really better than Nishki. Next time I gona try its bbq fried squid (must be yummy....)

The rest of the night I spent it with a taiwanese drama- black & white:

and yet, AWESOME!!!! it's not about romance, love all that stuff. But it involves actions, forensic science.. So exciting until I wana finish it in one day(& I going to finish it today!!)

I wonder when the b'day girl is coming. So, they can give her a big big surprise & then I can get to eat my lunch, Bak-kut-teh!! sometimes how I wish I am louise's friend. Happy Birthday to the going-to-come-here-n-have-a-big-surprise gal. Where are u? my tummy hurts =)