The First Time I Tried This

So tensions were high because the group had to submit a Research Thesis we have been working the whole Semester. To unwind a little, we had a small potluck and I used this opportunity to test the 'Keong Choong Chow Ngau' and it turned out a little off taste but still edible. I think it's the Soy sauce. I even switched the oil for the marination with sesame seed oil. To prove, here's a pic of the thing I cooked! (it's behind the sushi)

Thanks Giving

It was Thanks Giving yesterday and I was at a friend's place eating and drinking a little. It's crazy here how people celebrate this holiday (or any holiday for that matter). Nothing much was open! Also, it made me miss home for the first time after so long. The family gatherings, mum's dishes, and the traditions are what I missed most. I didn't know I was that into the Chinese traditions until when I'm here and when I don't do them anymore...

Anyways, a little update. Financially I am somewhat secure. I am covered until the winter break. As for the fees and all, I know I have 3000 to pay for lodging (not inclusive of the scholarship yet as that will add on only later). So I am seeing another USD 11,000 again this semester. Things seem to be going along fine. I just need to mail back mum's things as soon as I get the time because it's not very convenient to go to FEDX for it is situated downtown and I don't have a car nor does the bus go there... I'll have to ask Thomas.

Football Season

A New Post! Does anyone ever read here or check? Doesn't matter. Anyways, the reason why I felt like posting here is because it was school related! It's HOMECOMING! It's the first football game that if we win counts towards how strong our team is in the ranks. And if you were wondering about what football I meant, it is American football.

It was one of the most wicked awesome game ever! We were falling short behind initially but with three - four field kicks and a touch down, we won Weber State Uni of Utah 18 - 10. The crowd was WILD! In the end, it was a memorable event! I never knew I could like this sport so much. It beats football/soccer anytime haha.

I could say that Home coming is like Christmas. But during the dance event, there was a concert held in which Elton John performed. His tickets were expensive and sold out months before.

new sem

The new semester has long started and only now am I ever posting.

Nothing new only that I am taking like 18 credits.
- Communication and Technology (3 cr) : Every Tu 6 - 9 p.m.
- Communication Research Methods (3 cr) Every M W F 12 - 1 p.m.
- Communication Research Methods lab (1 cr) : Every W 10- 11 a.m.
- Statistics (3 cr) : Every W 5 - 8 p.m.
- Organizational Communication (3 cr) : Every M W F 9 - 10 a.m.
- Japanese 101 (5 cr) : Every M Tu W Th F 10 - 11 a.m.

And a whole load of readings, studyings, group assignments, writing assignments, and...whatever that is needed for languages as well.

Anyways, I'm sure everyone knows about the bad stuff that happened to me when I first arrived in US. Yes, I stayed in the Airport for 12 hours because immigration made me miss my flight from Seattle to Missoula. Worst experience ever!

Enough of the bad stuff, I have a few pictures...well, not a few, a lot of pictures taken since then and I'll post them up. One series is the football game I went (It's football season afterall). And I do not mean soccer, I meant American footbal!

update in a long time

This is a piece of recording of my roommate, Thomas Coleman. Apparently, someone claimed that I don't talk much about him, so I thought I'd video him. Some info, he's local from Montana, is 18 this year and he's FREAKING tall and has a super high metabolism that makes him rather thin. Has a great sense of humour and he's also a smart guy who is on scholarship in the honour's college.

So this was when he was sorta cleaning the room, which was rare, like almost never (I don't mind) and it was funny cause he keeps finding things that he lost while cleaning them. I guess it's true when people say that you will never find something you lost until you don't really want it and it suddenly just appears. Also, there is the cake in his cupboard that has been there since March 21st... We're just silly that way.

Moving on to another subject, I am rather sad because I think this semester, I would be getting 3 A, one B and one C. The C is the subject that I was struggling most and I just wish I did not take it at all...too late though. I did my best, or so I think. Next semester, I was able to get classes that I actually want and am interested in and so I will make it up then.

On a lighter note, I got Knowles dorm again and rooming with Thomas again, this time though, we got the 1st floor.

P.S.: It's weird for a guy to shop for women's bags and stuff...people were staring and the total was more than I thought it was but I guess my parents should indulge in themselves once in a while...

cultural : festival

This was what I did...it was SO embarrassing...

Valentines

So far classes have been fine for me. Nothing much I can do but to buckle up no matter what. I want to get a CGPA of at least 3.5 no matter. Classes that I like are my Creative Writing class, Anthropology, and Modern Dance. I don't really like Child Psychology. Yes that class has things that I've already learned but I just don't like the way that it is conducted.

There were times when I really ask myself what am I doing? I have my goals but there are so many classes here where I feel like they suit me more than my current major. Realistically...I know that won't put food on the table even if it is true. Somehow, I want to see how I will fare but I will try to buckle up.

What has been happening other than my studies? Life here is rather slow paced. I kinda got used to it? Considering I am rather slow by nature. However, there are things that I really want to do but have not done. One is skiing/snowboarding. The other is to explore the whole town. The first is because I haven't the time to plan while the second is the absence of a car.

The weather here has been odd. Days ago we experienced strong wind. Strong enough to almost lift me! Still, we had to brace the cold and walk to our classes. This is really putting your life out there for education. I almost fall five times being blown by the wind, tripping on frozen water on the ground. It's cold.

Did I mention how much I miss Malaysian food? Comparatively...nothing here can taste better than Malaysian food. WE all miss the food. WE feel bad for missing the food and not our family (maybe a little) and friends (friends? HAH food first!). Attempted to cook (the girls) something similar but the place here lacks our oriental flavour ingredients.

I haven't gotten a job yet. It's harder than it looks here. Maybe I will go for a library job instead of one in the Food Court. I hate to do clean ups...

I just need to buck up for classes.
I need to score!
I want good grades.

ice melting

It has been quite some time since I've last posted something. Classes are now fine. Everything has stabilized and life now is rather routine-like. Means I get up, prepare myself, leave for classes, end of classes, go back. Go online or do some reading. Then its time for dinner. Eat, then maybe play pool or watch TV.

There was a pop quiz for one of the classes which caught me off guard. I managed to do fairly well so I guess that's fine due to the fact that class was Terrorism which I have not much to comment about but was surprised that I even know things. It has done a good number on me in terms of how I view things and that history actually isn't so bad.

I even know now that I prefer my Tuesdays and Thursdays because classes start at 11.1o am while Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, classes start at 9.10 am. I also should apologise to those that I have not mailed previously. You can just send me an email scolding me or something and I will add you to my mailing list.

Here in Montana, I found the place I love the most. It's a store that sells branded goods at a VERY low price, known as Ross. I have to try and control my spending here. It's easy to overspend and now that I've gotten over the habit of converting, I think things here are cheap if one has a reasonable job that pays at least 1500 dollars a month.

Also, I am slowly incorporating the habit of reading here. Not like I have much to do anyways. Here, its study, then billiards, classes, dances, then learn to use the bus. Nothing much I can do yet considering I lack transportation (the means to drive) though it seems we can drive as long as we have a license even though it's not of the international kind.

My main concern now is my studies. Classes here are great but there are certain things I don't fancy. One, pop quiz - these things can kill if you are in a class where you have to study more. Two, exams - the exams here are 70% from the book and 30% of the lecture, meaning you will die if you didn't take down notes.

Three, chapters - one must read chapters and be prepared beforehand which I am not used to considering I was lazy when back home. Lastly, lecturers - some of them are so annoying...

I am aiming for a 4.0 or at least above 3.5

On to another topic. Chinese New Year is coming soon and the plan is to have steamboat at Hisham's place, organised by Faye. I have bought new year clothes, and shoes. So don't worry about me...I miss the family still and this is the first CNY spent without them. It's just gonna be all fun.

Did I mention I plan to come back for Summer? Most of us are. Considering I miss the food, the friends and family (dog too) and my bed. It's cheaper anyways. So we'll all be coming back to meet up with our friends still in ADP then as we leave, a WHOLE group of us will be leaving together to various parts of US. But first...we'll have to see how spring will be.

february

So I did my payment for the semester. It was my first time writing a cheque. So interesting... Anyways, when you think the weather here finally stabilizes, it hits you in the back and snickers. The temperature went down again. And it snowed...again. Classes so far are not bad to me. Considering they are all 100 and 200 (first and second year classes).

This is because I transfered with a 49 credit and to take upper division (third year and fourth year) subjects, I need to have 59 credits. So by now I would be upper division.

By the way, I finally did my laundry. There were some things I still have to be careful of. The warm and cold rinse. But at least I know now to put them together. I check all the clothes (except one which I think it shrunk...). The one that shrunk was a shirt I used for sleeping so it wasn't a big of a deal anyways.

Financially I am secure, the bank draft as well as money that was wired to me is all clear. My Debit card has been activated as well. All I need to do now is to watch what I spend, keep track of them as well as buy my text books...

Come to think of it, it's already February. Chinese New Year is around the corner. I know that there are plans at Faye's place. Faye's a friend from college (senior). She's Hisham's brother's girlfriend as well. So we were thinking steam boat. However, I have not seen much of steamboat food here. Imagine... Americans don't know what a fish ball is!!

In the end, I am doing fine. Email me for anything =)

then again...

Things here have been smooth so far after all that has happened. It's just the start of the semester! I have to liven up a little. Meeting expectations, going for classes, being independent...there should be a balance in all of these. Of course, things are just beginning to make sense. It's like the pieces of the puzzle are coming together.

As far as I know now, instead of all my classes are not related to my subject, after attending them, I feel that they actually relate more than I thought. Except for Modern dance, the others were related. So here is the breakdown of the classes and how it is related to my major.


Anthropology : Helps improve my communication and research skills when it comes to people, interviewing them and the likes.

Intro to Creative Writing - Fiction : It's a writing class, for my major, writing is important in any form (apparently) and so this is not a wasted subject. It also hones my creativity side.

Psychology - Child and Adolescent Dev. : As an advertiser, psychology is important. It goes hand in hand so this subject helps me understand this area of consumers so that when I target them, I know and can use the right approach.

History - Terrorism, Violence in the Modern World : Is a class that at first, I had my speculations on whether it was useful. However, this class is a class that actually focuses on critical thinking and idealism. It helps in advertising as well because it not only talks about Terrorism in terms of the Iraqi case, but from way back to the French Revolution and the development of society in different areas of the world. Definitely worth attending.

So I have covered all the classes that I have been taking that at first thought that it has no relation to my major but after attending the classes, I thought... this will work.

dance

I have had a funny start on the week. Went into classes that I don't belong because I didn't know the venue changed, so I missed the classed I signed up for and entered learned something for about an hour. Yup! Uni life is starting to look fine. And I haven't been able to do my laundry because I don't have the time to buy. My schedule is SO heavily hectic.

I managed to get into the Creative Writing: Fiction class but not into the Family Communications. So now I have the Grad Student for a lecturer. There are also classes that can be boring like Anthropology 104 where it is more like sit down and chat before anything else. It's an odd class but I don't know what to do. It has my least interest at all.

There was also the dropping of Math 117 and Communications in small groups. Ends up I am doing nothing that is major related at the moment, except for Psychology of Children & Adolescent. The rest are Terrorism. I don't even know why I am taking such a subject. I don't like it but I don't have a choice.

Then there was Modern Dance class. It was interesting but the first lesson I had were stretching. And oh was it a stretch! It was like pilates PLUS ballet. We had to do these knee bends and jumps and funny things all on the empty stomach. The end result? An abdominal, leg and thigh sore.

Interesting? Fun? Uni life...

after the first hurdle

If you read this post, you'll notice that a lot of time has passed and things have rather changed. I had no time at all the past week to type anything because they keep the international students rather busy with activities and getting started on the necessities. I still don't have a phone but Nico discovered another better company and so I am taking that.

I have my laptop already? No, it isn't a Mac because in Montana, they don't stock these laptops, rather one has to go online and order them. It takes weeks to reach your place. That's why...I got a SONY Vaio instead. It's not the best of computers, a little pricey but cheaper than one in Malaysia, so I guess it has to do.

With that said, I have internet as well. It was a struggle but I pulled through. What have I did the past week? Fun stuff, I did Salsa dancing at a club, and going to the gym. I lost a few things along the way though, which kinda made me sad, one was a scarf while the other were the ski gloves. The scarf just disappeared suddenly one day...while I misplaced the gloves while buying this laptop... I know I sound not responsible but I am still trying.

Made a lot of new friends, the international exchange students. They are a friendly bunch from places like Kazakhstan, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Mexico, Chile, France, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Italy, and Tajikistan. A lot? Places yes, but representatives, they come in singles, pairs and one triple.

We are a happy bunch. I also did a Peer Assistant program where we meet American friends. Though I have yet to spend time with my PA because I want to settle my classes first. I feel bad but I guess I have no choice. I will make it up soon. I classes that I am currently registered are Linear Mathematics, Communication in Small Groups, Modern Dance, and Anthology.

The ones that I want to get into are Communication in Families and Creative writing: Fiction. They are all full...I hope to get into at least one more class so that I can fill up 12 credits. Have to do more shopping and I am running low a little, on cash that is cause books here cause a bomb. Imagine book prices at Taylors, only in Dollars and sometimes reaches > USD100!!!

So now I am finding a balance, getting used to things. Also, I've started to go gym again. I mean, we have nothing much to do anyways so its partially to take time off at the moment. It's fun cause we go together (an international student from New Zealand - Lucy). She is my gym buddy! Haha along with two Italians (Maurice and Sam) as well as Benoit (pronounced as ben-hwa, from France).

About my transactions, I got permission to pay late without getting the penalty so it isn't a problem to me now at the moment. Thank GOD!

Many more things but I will only type this much at the moment...it's getting late. Nites

the gap in between

Sorry bout not posting soon. After leaving Seattle, I kinda had no means to go online nor call or anything. Took a long flight past mountains and mountains all covered in snow and finally reaching Missoula. The weather here in Missoula, is MUCH colder compared to Seattle. Of course this weather is not normal and only happens once every 5 - 6 years.

Someone did come to pick me up at the airport. And I got to meet a lot of people along the way. Hisham and his brother met up with me that night on Sunday as we went to Wal-Mart to shop for house things. I am kind of getting used to the money here, though I only by what I REALLY need but I guess I've accepted the fact that I can't do the conversion thingie.

I can't get a phone yet because to get a phone, one needs to have to pay either through credit or debit. And to do that, I need a bank account. So no phone. Then, I wanted to get an Apple/ Mac Computer and they only do orders which will arrive in about 3 weeks? I can't wait that long... Still trying to find a place that DOES sell these things or else I'd just get a normal laptop T^T

Which means, no internet connection for me. PLUS when I DID start a bank account and banked in the cheque of 7500 USD, I can only get the full amount on the 29th or January because it takes time if it was USD 5000 or more and the bank they are getting the money from is in New York... the beauty of it is, my registration and payment due date is on the 23rd.

YUP! Ken Gene is getting his assed fried by the American System. If I pay later than that date, they incur a 40 USD fine. Isn't that so pretty? Unless I get more money wired in. Which I tend to do once I get a phone which I don't have one cause... Yea... Isn't that like a total lock down on me or something? I definately feel it's that way...

My roommate isn't in yet cause I think he'll only be in when classes begin. So I am living alone, trying to figure things out and trying to solve these problems. Hishy is nice, so is his brother but they can't help me much here... We'll see what will happen to me... I am stressed and pissed at the situation now and classes haven't even started.

One word, Wonderful America.

Seattle

Arrived in Seattle safe and sound. The first thing that greated me was the soft snow. I was amazed by the beauty of the place. It feels like I am on vacation more than for studying purpose. The temperature is around -5 degrees celcius which is like...wayyyyy comfortable for me though it is chilly a little on the hands and feet.

Seattle now is covered in snow and that makes driving around difficult. That said, it means that shopping for my things here is cancelled. I guess I haven't a choice but to get my things in Missoula. What more, due to the snow, Hisham might not make it on time. Plus the fact that the Uni has not mentioned whether they will be picking me or not... I might have to find my way to campus.

Survive a day without knowing my way around until reinforcements (Hishy and Borhan) shows...

I am starting to miss my family now though. Not home sick, just miss the people.

We'll see what I can do. I can't move around much thus I can't call home at the moment so please understand. For what it's worth, I'm safe and doing fine at the moment so no worries ya?

transit

I am soooo stuck here in Incheon, Korea. Only five more hours to go... It's SO BORING! Trying hard not to spend so much money. And the weird thing is... There seems to be a bang of Burberry, Hermes and other really big branded good stores here. The worst part is, almost % of the people I passed are wearing something from Burberry be it a scarf of jacket.

It's kinda pain to the head when everything here costs a bomb. I am trying to keep within budget but barely surviving. Also, how is one expected to survive here with the limited funds and no... NO entertainment at all? XD I am not complaining but it's just one of my usual whinings.

Starting to miss the family...a little, but just a little. Haha

Anyways, I don't think I will be able to go online much for the next few days so we'll have to see what other interesting encounters I will be having in the days to come. ^ ^