It’s not about perfection.

Hello readers. =)

I am moving back t0

here

See you at blogspot again. =)

How else would you explain me falling sick 4 times in the last 6 months since I started working full time?

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged.  I have started many times, but have never managed to finish any of my posts.

Sept 2009. I am 23 and 4 months.

This year, I was supposed to leave Newcastle. Work someplace else.

This year, I was supposed to be serving more in church. Instead, I pulled back from the one area where I was serving the most – FOCUS.

This year, I was supposed to grow up, yet I’m still a baby.

This year was the year I figured out where I was going in life yet I’m still just as indecisive.

2009- Another year where I achieved nothing?

I was praying this morning. It’s something I haven’t done in a long time, sit still and pray.

And I asked Him this question. 2009, did I achieve nothing for You?

And instead, I found out that I did do many things in 2009.

I made friends with people I never thought I could ever be friends with.

I talked about Jesus to someone who I thought would laugh at me for telling him about something so ridiculous.

I read the Bible a little bit more than last year.

I kept  in touch with friends I love a little bit more than last year.

I got a job. As a research assistant.

I finally earned enough money to adopt a world vision child.

I raised 630 dollars and completed the 40 hour famine.

Relationship wise, I think we’ve come far. He’s definately grown to be more loving and gentle with me and I’ve hopefully grown tougher and less sensitive.

2009- 3 more months to go.

Whatever I do, remind me that a life of service to You is the only life worth living.

Whatever I do, remind me that a life reflecting Christ is my greatest aim.

Whatever I do, remind me that You are to be glorified.

I survived! Haha. But I had milky drinks, so it wasn’t really famine.

More like being a baby again.

You know what though? More torturous than not eating was not having the tv, internet and mobile phone. To send an SMS to Brendan wishing him all the best for his IELTS exam, I had to walk and find his car, write on a piece of paper and stick it on his car wiper. So much more effort just to say something.

The first webpage I accessed after my 40 hour ‘technology’ fast was Groupwise, my staff email (no, i’m not a workaholic, I was expecting something urgent).

And then facebook.

And then hotmail.

And then I googled some stats stuff.

And then I’m sleepy. Will do proper update soon.

Hello people.

Yes, that’s right. I want YOUR money.

Nolah, not so much money. Just one note will be enough.

After having a very full dinner, I sat back and started to surf the internet. Like every single one of you reading this.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner. We take all that food in our cupboard for granted.

Sure we might make some compromises, use home brand milk instead of PURA, buy cheap woolies bread instead of noble rice. But as far as I know, we have never been forced to go hungry.

Did you know that because of the global food crisis, people on already low income are able to buy even less food?

Did you know that 25,000 children die daily- from hunger and preventable diseases?

You and I may not be able to stop the poverty, but we can buy a months’ food for five children with only $40.

You may have heard of 40 Hour famine campaign from all the ads going on.

Well, the idea is you basically give up something for 40 hours from the 21st to the 23rd Aug.

I will be giving up food (will still be taking fluid) and technology for 40 hours. Which basically mean I will be asleep all day =p. Just kidding.

My goal is to raise enough money to feed five children for one year. $ 480

40 per month x 12 months = $ 480 ( I can try hey)

So all you need to is click here to donate,insert my famine number= 671071058 and prepare your credit card. =) Donations start from a minimum of $2. Every bit counts.

Easy peasy.

Oh my, first MJ then Yasmin Ahmad.

What is it with unexpected, premature deaths that makes us feel this way? =(

I will always remember the Petronas CNY, Hari Raya and Deepavali ads that were truly, for lack of a better word – memorable.

She was truly a remarkable film director, successfully producing tear jerking, heart warming short clips.

These are some my favourite Petronas ads.

If you’re Malaysian Chinese, you will definitely smile at this one.

And this one make me feel like I have to go home this year. =(

Last one I promise. This one is so cute!

I must say that I’ve only seen two of her films, the critically acclaimed ‘Sepet’ and ‘Rabun’.

Should we now embark on a crazy whirlwind tour of watching her production, now the she’s no longer here to produce anymore?

I say we should.

In loving memory of Yasmin Ahmad.

Recently I have been storing up quotes of things I find amusing in my head that I mean to write down before I forget (yes, I have the memory of a goldfish).

“History is His story” – Run, Hillsong from the album This is our God, 2008

Basically, North Korea is a place where you don’t get listened to, you’re hungry and trapped. It’s kinda like Jet star ruling your country. – 7pm project

After hearing all this, you people who are planning on getting married will probably be planning on getting a dog instead. – Dr Phil after an episode on marital issues.

Your grace without reason has paid for our freedom (I always hear it as treason). – Hillsong

A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship him than a lunatic can by scribbling the word ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell. – CS Lewis.

As a mother and a grandmother, I am used to dealing with this kind of behaviour. Just deny them what they want ( paraphrased). – Hilary Clinton on North Korea and nuclear weapons testing.

I forgot how much I like this song.

John Mayer- No such thing.

I work as a research assistant for the uni. That’s my standard answer when people ask what I do for work.

What does that involve?

Definitely no manual labour.

Basically, I do whatever my project supervisor tells me to do.

That involves,

1) Drafting a survey over and over and over and over and over again. Did I tell you I’ve been working on my survey for 2.5 months? And it’s still not done.

2) Submitting ethic variations with 15 attachements (Appendix A-O)

3) Trolling through 12,000 abstracts.

4) Coding journal articles to the most specific detail.

5) Proof reading papers a million times.

6) Being sure where all the latest draft of survey (see 1) is.

7) Finding journal articles with minimal information (eg: Serene, I need this paper by Gustoff?, I think it’s Gustoff but I don’t know if it is).

8) Trying to solve the problems that the ethics committe throws at us.

9) Did I mention abstracts? Yes, more of them to come.

But the strangest thing about all this is…

I think I’m actually starting to enjoy all of this.

My supervisor is lovely. She gives me the fullest control over every task and tries to include me in every aspect of planning.

I get the win-win situation of problem solving and yet having someone to run to when I can’t solve the problem – just like a student!

My colleagues are lots of fun!

Sprocket is nearby. That’s the HBRG coffee place. (Jeram + Joyce come visit me for coffee!)

My team is excellent.

Soon, I’ll even get to have a hand at writing papers.

Yes, unexpected as it, working as a research assistant is great.

The first two months were all about discipline. Sitting for 8 hours and getting work done on the computer all day.

This month, works been piling up. They say it take 3 months to build a habit. So it’s no longer about working 7-8 hours a day. It’s about time management and getting through the task efficiently without compromising quality. Deadline are coming. The projects happening.

And I am excited!