Going to Melbourne and Tasmania

Exam finished 3 days ago and now is my holiday!!

Will be going to Melbourne and Tasmania tomorrow. Will stop at Melbourne for 5 days and will then fly to Tasmania on the sixth. We are hoping to see snow over there.. Yay!!

All together 13 of us will be going for this trip. Yes, we always have a large group when going for a tour.

The thing with so many people is that it’s very “ma fan” to take care everybody’s need. Some might want to go this tourist attraction and some might not want to. Then, some attractions need entrance fees but some of us might not want to pay.

Worst of all, some of my friends do not contribute anything in preparation for this trip. They say got exam and no time to meet up for discussion. My friends and I have to do everything. From booking accommodation to planning which tourist attraction to go. Others don’t even volunteer themselves to help us just because of the finals.

We have one friend who’s been to Melbourne before and we are expecting her to in charge of making the bookings but, because she is having exam today, we have to take responsible as well. For heaven sake, I had my finals last week too..

the breathtaking view of Dove Lake, Tasmania

The lesson is not to go holiday with large group.. but we are still excited for the trip!!

Preparing for the Exam

From past record, I tend to be more negative when examination is approaching. This time, the same as well. My mind and body filled with negativity thoughts.. oh yar, my exams in on 23 and 28 of June (next week!!).

Negativity thoughts to the extent of giving up.. past few weeks I was rushing to finish my assignment before the deadline. With so many things to do and not forgetting to start revision, I started to think of letting it go and fail.. Oh well, I was not alone. My housemates were thinking the same way as well.

I was fragile at that time. Wait, I was fragile from the time I came here. With lack of family support (physically), I am fragile and loss of confidence. But then again, if I fail those two papers, I would have to retake again and delay my graduation. Not only that, I have to pay again A$12k (equivalent to MYR36k++) to retake the paper!! That’s a waste of time and money. Most importantly I will disappoint my parents’ expectation on me. So, no! I can’t afford to fail!!

If you ask me to pay more attention, I did but I just can’t seem to concentrate. The subjects were very though! And the question style is different from inti. Here, the questions were more to critical thinking rather than direct-type of questions. Worst of all, my basic is not strong enough to answer the application-type of questions! Die la!! So, that means I may not answer the question correctly even though I manage to memorize all the notes.

I just started reading the notes on last Sunday and I have many, many more to come.. but now I feel more confident after reading a few chapters.

I don’t expect for high distinction, a pass is all I wanted. Hoping for the best to come...

Before and After

Continue from previous post..

Studying at oversea and staying far away from family is not easy especially when you are in down moment where you have no one to talk to or to cry on.. Not that I don’t have friends with me, but to let them hear my rantings? Not possible.

Despite staying over here for 2 months plus, I notice some changes in me.

Here are some before and after coming here:

Before: In Malaysia, 16⁰C was cold..

After: But here, 8⁰C is COLD!! 16⁰C is now considered cool. 30⁰C consider hot!! I can’t imagine when I get back to Malaysia

Before: In Malaysia, I don’t have to cook..

After: I have to cook at least 3 times a week for lunch and dinner for 5 persons including me. Not that I don’t like to cook (in fact, I like cooking), but thinking of what to cook every time for 5 people? Not easy.. Now I learn how my mother has to crack her head in order to cook different type of dishes every day for us. Mother is the best!

Before: In Malaysia, I don’t feel heartbreak when spending money..

After: Every cent counts!! My mind will automatically convert every dollar to Malaysian ringgit. Plus, today I saw the high exchange rate at a bank, RM3.50 to A$1!! Every time when dividing the bills, every cent was counted!! We can’t afford to belanja others.

Before: In Malaysia, if I want to a place, I would drive there..

After: Over here? No matter how the place is, I have to take the bus and walk to that destination!! The number of steps I walked here for 2 months are more than the number of steps in Malaysia for a year!!

Before: In Malaysia, no need to go pasar..

After: Forced to go to the Central Market every week to buy food. But market here is dry, unlike Malaysia’s wet pasar.

I supposed all these changes are good to me though sometimes very tiring to study at day then come back home to cook. Perhaps this trains me to become a full-fledge househusband!! Haha..

After one year, I would change into brand new Scotty!!

Scotty’s One Month-long at Adelaide

Yup, I have been here for one month plus. I was unaware about it until one day my roommate told me about it. Time pass so fast. I could even remember the first day I arrived here. Was terribly tired on that day!!

The first two weeks was our honeymoon period. Very excited being in a whole new place and environment. Admiring the architectural of the old buildings which were completely different from Msia. Getting use to the new environment and lifestyle, and trying to blend in to the lifestyle. Here, the lifestyle was slow and relax; locals went jogging during lunchtime like almost every time I see them jogging as if they don’t need to work!! Went to the Glenelg Beach (no hunky Aussies in speedos). Went to Urimbira Wildlife Park to see kangaroos hopping around and koala bears (koala bears were way cuter than kangaroos). Eating lunchbox at Torrens River.

You see, most of the stuffs were enjoying as if we were here for holidays. We almost forgot we are here for studying!! Everything we did during this period was fun and enjoying. We cooked for each meals but not until when the classes started..

The second two weeks was the homesick/“reality kicks in” period. Homesick says it all. Started to miss my family. Started to appreciate their presence.. besides that, started to get bored with this place. You can’t find any shops or restaurants open at night. No entertainment. No mamak stalls. No people on street at night. Very quiet at night at the neighborhoods. The only entertainment for us all was drinking wine with cheese and chatting while the neighbors switch off their light and sleep?

This was the time the classes started. “Reality kicks in”. The first day class was disastrous. A big slap on my face to wake up me from my honeymoon period. In the lectures, I was dreaming and my mind was not concentrating on the lecturers. I barely heard anything from the lectures for their monotonous speech and strong accent. But luckily my uni had recorded the lecture and I view back anytime. In lab class, the place was so crowded to accommodate at least 50 students. Unlike in inti, we had 11 of us in one lab class and can literally play kejar-kejar in the lab!! But not over here. The were a lot of differences between here and inti. For example, in inti we need only to follow instructions from lecturer but here, you are hands-on and need not to follow the instructions from demonstrators. The tutorial class even worse; I need to compete with the spontaneous ang mos to answer questions as marks are given for answering and for speaking up!! The questions were mostly application-required type and I always not good in that department. All in all, the education system here is different from inti. I still need time to get use with new systems. That’s all about learning, rite? Hopefully it won’t need too long for that day to come..

Will stop here and continue on the next post..

Don't Be A Drag, Just Be A Queen!!

It doesn't matter if you love him, or capital H-I-M
Just put your paws up
'Cause you were born this way, baby

My mama told me when I was young
We're all born superstars
She rolled my hair, put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir

"There's nothin' wrong with lovin' who you are"
She said, "'Cause He made you perfect, babe"
"So hold your head up, girl and you you'll go far,
Listen to me when I say"

I'm beautiful in my way,
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret,
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way
(Born this way)

Ooo, there ain't no other way
Baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way
(Born this way)
Ooo, there ain't other way
Baby, I was born this way
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Don't be!

Give yourself prudence and love your friends
Subway kid, rejoice the truth
In the religion of the insecure
I must be myself, respect my youth

A different lover is not a sin
Believe capital H-I-M (hey, hey, hey)
I love my life, I love this record and
Mi amore vole fe yah

I'm beautiful in my way,
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret,
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Ooo, there ain't no other way

Baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way
(Born this way )
Ooo, there ain't other way
Baby, I was born way
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

( Queen , Don't be , Queen )

Don't be drag, just be a queen
Whether you're broke or evergreen
You're black, white, beige, chola descent
You're lebanese, you're orient
Whether life's disabilities
Left you outcast, bullied or teased
Rejoice and love yourself today
'Cause baby, you were born this way

No matter gay, straight or bi
lesbian, transgendered life
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born to survive
No matter black, white or beige
chola or orient made
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born to be brave

I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret,
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way, yeah!

Ooo, there ain't no other way
Baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way
(Born this way )
Ooo, there ain't other way
Baby, I was born this way
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

I was born this way, hey!
I was born this way, hey!
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way, hey!

I was born this way, hey!
I was born this way, hey!
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way, hey!

p.s. "gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life" has been censored in Malaysia's hitz.fm radio station but not in Australia's radio station. This song's meaningful, telling us to be confident of who we are. Why censored? Because of the words "gay, bi, lesbian, and transgender"??

Arriving At Adelaide

My uni

I have been here, Adelaide, for more than a week. I had no problem settling down here as my friend’s boyfriend, who stayed here for two years, had helped us in settling down. When we reached here on the first day, we were so tired after tiring flight from KL and luckily we had him to cook us dinner and bring us around the city. Luckily I stayed with a group of friends, I’m still not yet feel homesick. That’s the advantage side of staying with friends, we talk, we laugh and we cook. I’m very sure none of us will feel homesick instead, we felt homely..

Adelaide’s a laid-back city. It’s quiet, safe, and peaceful to live here. There was one time I walked alone on a dimly-lighted street and there were no people insight, I felt safe. Unlike in Malaysia, those dimly-lighted streets are the hotspot for snatch thieves.

The weather here is cool though sometimes it can be very cold for me. It was 17⁰C out there and I was putting on my sweater while the locals wore a singlet with a shorts!! But not long after that, I got used to the cold weather and started to throw away sweater shorts. Due to the cool weather, I did’t sweat a lot when standing under the scorching sunlight unlike in Malaysia.

And since coming here, my friends and I tend to be very polite to the ang moh. We’ll say “Thank you” if they had helped us even a little thing. Then, we’ll say “Sorry” if we blocked their way on a pathway. All these never happen in Malaysia. There was one time when I asked them: Why in Malaysia, we will never say “Don’t block others’ way” on a pathway? We, then, only realized we actually like to stand in middle of a pathway and blocking others’ way back in Malaysia..

As for ogling part, the Caucasians are HOT lor!! Every day you get to see men in office attire walking on the Rundle Mall. Since Australian very open one, but I have not seen two guys holding hand together walking down on the street lor.. And I was so excited to find out there is a bookstore near my place selling DNA magazine, which I searched high and low at the Rundle Mall. And it costs A$9.95, not cheap but will definitely start a fund to buy this magazine..

Current DNA's cover page

Classes will begin next week. And so the real challenge.. went to the briefing and kinda worried if I could cope up with the new teaching style.. hopefully everything will go smoothly..

Reaching Changi Airport

I’m currently at Changi Airport.

Singapore, the gay city, is always the place I wanted to visit for so long (after seeing those near-to-naked Singaporean pictures from some bloggers).

Indeed, I was cuci mata. The ang moh are everywhere and they are all very muscular and wear smartly in office attire!!

I guess will drool even more when I reach there.

Another an hour to go to board my flight to Adelaide.. Another tiring flight...