Leavers

June 26, 2008

Feelings: Restless, edgy and disoriented

Why?

In just a few more days, my dear friends are leaving to faraway land.

Jonathan Lee Yan Kit
is leaving for New Zealand. Words fail me as I’m overwhelmed with feelings right now. Reminds me of the time when he leaves for Nilai. I don’t exactly know how far NZ is from Malaysia but I’m pretty sure it’s darn far. 4 hours of driving won’t get you there, not even 4 days. That means seeing him back here once a couple of months is not possible anymore like how we are used to it while he’s studying in Nilai.

I didn’t tell him how I feel after he left for Nilai. Though I did write it on a card for him a couple of Christmas back which didn’t reach his hand. He is so gonna kill me when he reads this but he can’t because he should be in KL or NZ by now. Hehe! I plan to scan the card and email it to him…but first I got to find that card first. (gasp!)

I’m pretty sure God have plans for him over there. He’ll use him to bless the people there, do something extraordinary or maybe teach/train him something new. All in all, God is good and all-knowing.

Me and Jon

Jon, Mr. Wilf Ashton and me @ GLO Taiping 2004

Me and Jon (goodness, I can hardly recognize that's me!)

What Jon enjoys doing to me...

Steal my food >.<

Stacks-on me >.<>

I'm thankful that I'm still alive after that.

Melissa Keong Wei Yin
is leaving for her new university, UNIMAS, Sarawak in 3 days (29th June). Another departure that gives me mixed emotions when she told me she got into UNIMAS. Was happy for her that she got a place in public uni but on the other hand, kind of sad that it’s overseas (though it’s still the same country but geographically speaking, it’s over a BIG sea, unlike Penang island to the mainland =P). But it’s all good since I manage to give her a surprise on her birthday by popping up on the ‘supposedly surprise celebration’ organized by her close friends and bid farewell to her on the airport.

We shared many stories together ranging from relationships to problems to rants to secrets (though I just found out not too long ago that she shared my stuff with one of her close friend >.<)

*text missing due to unknown reason >.<*

Melissa and me (on her birthday)

The birthday crew

*ignore the guy who's showing his back*

Me, Melissa, Shuang and Titus @ Penang International Airport
for Melissa and Melanie's departure to Sarawak.

(hmm, I didn't manage to get the pics from Melanie, hence her pic's not here)

Melanie Ann Perera
is leaving for the same reason as Melissa. Yes, both of them got into UNIMAS but different course. She nearly almost didn’t get into any university…at first. Poor girl broke down into tears that can probably be considered as a mini “Great Flood” (during Noah’s time) in her house. By God’s grace, the neighbours doesn’t have to call for plumbing service as she refresh the webpage (many, many times), she notices that there’s a slight changes. She read that she was given a place in UNIMAS. I guess her head was flooded with tears at that time and it didn’t register into her brain when she read what’s written on the monitor. It took her quite awhile to regain control of her motorneuron cells or whatever cells that controls your body movement (yes, she was staring stoned in front of her PC for awhile). Well she didn’t break her windows or glasses with her shrieking scream after that but instead she prints out what’s on the webpage so that she can actually feel and touch (maybe smell?) it because it’s unbelievable just by sight alone. Then there’s the second flood again but this time it’s the tears of joy.

However this girl here is the one whom I have the most concern for. I mean, not because of her petite stature but because she have a caring and loving heart for her family despite the many shortcoming and trials she have to face. Having to be separated from her family and live independently, it is my prayer that God will provide her with everything she needs to make it through.

Melanie and Shuang

Tan Qu Wern
is leaving for Nottingham University in Semenyih, Kajang. This brother here, I believe, have gone through a roller coaster ride (usually parents are dragged into the ride as well) after his SPM results came out and before he makes the decision to enter Nottingham University. Not being sure what you want to do after SPM is certainly a scary experience especially when closing date for the first or second intake in various colleges and private universities are nearing. Even harder if you’ve a wide range of interest, be it from yourself or influenced by others.

I know he’ll be able to take care (and enjoy) of himself there as the church are linking him up with some good assemblies there. Plus he have wonderful parents to support him and he can come back to Penang whenever he wants to since it’s only a few hours ride by four wheel vehicle. Hope to see you soon brother!

Qu Wern and me with our gift exchange @ SAGH Christmas 2007

Qu Wern and Kenneth, so into their favourite pass time.



July 20, 2008

Loh Sou Shuang

has just left for Sabah this morning. Same like Melanie, she flooded her house with tears and her parents contributed to it as well after knowing that none of the universities she chose accepted her. She’s afflicted with sorrow and depression, even worst when after all her friends are preparing to go to their universities. In the midst of trying to comfort/encourage her, I found out that only by teasing her helps to lift her spirit up. Yeah, that’s right; tease her physical attributes (she’s short. very. at least to me.) in order to encourage her spiritually and emotionally. I warn you readers first, I doubt it works for everyone. Use it at your own risk. I will not be responsible for any form of physical or emotional damage you might encounter while attempting to use my method of encouraging on your friends or someone you know.

However, she did not give up and send in her appeal to a couple of universities. I guess she struggled (don’t we all do when we’re put in a situation like hers?) in putting her trust in God to prepare a place for her. On the day the appeal results came out, she checked on the education webpage as she did last time. Same thing happened. Result was negative. She text me saying she’s ok and wonders why they rejected her. Few days later, I asked her hows the plan on Curtin University is coming about as that’s her backup plan. I remember her saying stuff about some cute guy there and suddenly she screams from her text message saying that she got into UMS. At first I thought she was bluffing as she did it once to Melissa but she can’t be that lame to simply bluff just like that. She says it’s real as she’s looking at the webpage at that moment (a day after the results came out). Asked her how come she didn’t notice it before. I think she refreshes the page on the day after the results came out. Lesson of the story, clearing your browser’s cache and temporary internet files and refresh/reload the page on college/university or government sites. Well I’m really glad for her as God did prepare a place for her. On top of that, UMS was her first choice and she got into the course she wanted. Blessing in disguise eh? Supposedly she got accepted into university the first time; chances are it’ll not be her first choice. Guess she did put her trust in God as she’s been praising God in her blog that night.

Sou Shuang and Hooi Siang

Sou Shuang and me, with Hooi Siang's hand behind.

Previous Leaver (almost forgot about this people)

Yam Kah Wei aka Kah Wai aka Yam Kor aka Chan Hoe

&

Koo Sin Yee aka Ah Yee aka Siti aka Malai Por
has graduated from USM. Both are in Malacca working as Statistical Process Control (SPC, i think..hehe!) and school teacher respectively. They have been a tremendous blessing to the people in Sungai Ara Gospel Hall (SAGH) and Sungai Nibong Gospel Hall (SNGH). Initially they say they have plans to stay in Penang after they graduated either for Masters or work here. However, suddenly they tell us shocking news that they started working in Malacca already. Everyone was stunned and shocked especially Sungai Ara Youth Hour (SAYH) peeps. They were part of the youth committee and before that, give us hope that they have plans to stay on to help with the youth work. Mana tau...it turns out to be false hope. Cheh! Haha! Anyway, that doesn’t matter anymore. We all had fun ‘persecuting’ them and had a good laugh together when they came back to visit us the first time after they complete their final year papers. Those 3 years they spend with us are certainly a sweet and memorable chapter of our life. May God continue to be with them to guide them in their life here on earth and their spiritual growth as well. =)

Kah Wai with his gaya

He can always be a part time model

Sin Yee with her most innocent or decent pose

In truth...
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Her true self revealed

Do not be deceived by her looks

Ong Hooi Siang

&

Vincent Mah Weng Hoong

is in KTAR. Vincent is part of the SAYH committee as well and a very nice brother and I would say, makes a good leader. Sigh…the leftover have to carry all the burden from the 3 leavers. Well it’s not that bad lah, since he and Hooi Siang can come back as often as they wanted as long as there’s holiday or sometimes on weekend. Hooi Siang is a crazy guy. Anyone who knows him will certainly tell you that. Despite his craziness, he is intelligent and thinks a lot when it comes to bible study. However, you’ll see him in his crazy mode 90% of the time. Also, he has the gift of ripping his pants. Both of them make a good partner. I mean, good partner as in team-up together in helping each other in their studies and their spiritual walk.

One of the pants Hooi Siang ripped

Vincent with his favourite pose!
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Fortunately, he only pose like that when he's alone in the pic.

See how normal he is when he's taking with Melanie ;-)

Feelings : Comfortable, fuzzy, happy

Went out with an old friend of mine back in secondary school. All these while been trying to find time to meet up with her but guess our schedules doesn’t allow us to do so. Today is exceptional though, finally manage to slot in our meeting up before her dad’s birthday.

It was a great catching up session with her. I mean, she’s having her training and studies in Alor Setar, only comes back sometimes and most of the time she’s busy with her never ending exams, test and assignments. Oh, she’s studying medical/doctor. She asked me to discourage those who are thinking of studying medical/doctor in future. Well I know she’s a bright student, one of the top scorers in school and plays bowling for Penang in SUKMA, bagging a gold medal or 2. This warning is not from any average student. Perhaps you readers who read this might try to consider this warning before going forth into this long tunnel of suffering.

Well I don’t blame her for feeling that way. She has this special gift where she’s involved in many embarrassing or silly situation. So I’m guessing here that her experience throughout the years must’ve been a non pleasant one due to that. Just now she told me some of her silly moments. I’m not the type who laughed at other people’s misfortune, but this really, I can’t control myself from bursting into laughter.

Imagine a young lady in her early 20s, wearing a doctor’s overcoat, with a spectacle (somehow it makes them looks wiser and professional), trying to get out from the hospital through a door…

with 4 attempts.

The thing is, that door has some security features in it. I’m not very clear about this, but what I can remember is, there’s a button that opens the door some distance away. As soon as you release the button, the door slowly closes back and locks. Usually people go out in pairs or something. One person press the button, the other went ahead and holds the door open till they both went out together. Don’t really remember but roughly it’s something like this. So my unfortunate friend here, have to go out alone as her friend that usually goes out with her wasn’t around.

First attempt, there’s another group of people that went out, she was some distance behind them and as soon as she reaches the door, the door closes. She heads back to the button.

Second attempt, she presses the button and walks towards the door. Somehow when she’s like 3 steps before the door, the door closes. She heads back to the button again.

Third attempt, she presses the button and walks towards the door, pick up her pace with a few skips in between (hahaha! I started laughing when I imagine this) but 2 steps before the door, same thing happens. Again she heads back.

Fourth attempt, she presses and holds the button. Takes a deep breathe and have one leg out in a ready position to run for it. Stares and zoom in her focus to the door, telling herself that she’s got to run through before the door closes. She lets go of the button and sprint with all her might, leaving a mark on the floor with her shoe. She activates her bullet time ala Matrix’s slow motion effect. Every step is crucial as the door shows no mercy by closing an inch with each step she takes. Her cheeks crashing through the air molecules, her hair splitting atoms at tremendous speed and her overcoat flapping up and down like Superman’s cloak. The door’s closing even further, there’s no way for her to get through the door anymore..but wait! She’s still running, ahh! She’s aiming for the door itself! As long as she reaches the handle before the locking mechanism kicks in, she can still get out! She stretches out her right arm, while leaving her footprints of fury on every tile she steps on. All light sources outside the door vanished from her sight; she channels her energy towards her fingers, hoping it’ll stretch a little bit longer for a split second to grab the handle. Alas, she heard a click from the door, followed by a bang as she crashes onto the door. The door’s not broken…I mean she didn’t break her bone or hurt herself despite the crash. She stares at the door, bewildered, before she realizes that there’s a small crowd of audiences consisting of patients and janitor. She gathers all her remaining strength and honour, walks up to the janitor saying,

“Mak cik, boleh tolong buka pintu sat?”

Stunned face with mouth opened mak cik coming back to reality and says,

“Oh oh, boleh boleh.”

Mak cik presses the button while my dear friend walks out of the door.

Haha! I over exaggerate on the fourth attempt. I don’t know why, but whoever thought of that kind of security is…well should revise it.

Another incident was that my friend wants to go swimming. As she’s going out from her house, she was thinking that she forgot something, ding! Shower cap. She got back in, grab her shower cap and proceed to the swimming pool in her college. Paid RM3 to the pak cik at the counter, spinning her shower cap happily as she trots to the ladies. All of a sudden, she felt something amiss. Like something’s not right. She looks around the locker area and somewhat felt strange. Walks out of the room and checks the sign.

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Ladies.

Walks back in feeling relief a little. As she opens her bag, to her utmost horror, she sees……..that her swimsuit isn’t there. She left it at home. That’s Christine for you.

Hmm, I better say something nice about her. Otherwise if I’ve to visit her clinic or hospital in future, I’ll be in grave danger (gasp!). Although she can be blur and silly at times, she’s a lovely person and treats people really nice (well except for those who scare her off). She’s one of the few people whom I will label “Friends FOREVER” with a permanent ink. Not erasable marker pen like the many people who uses in Facebook and Friendster.

Oh ya, we watched Get Smart. It was hilarious I telling you! I laughed hardest at the part where Agent 86 is inside a Russian restaurant’s toilet. Although it’s quite an old show already, I assume many have watched it already but I’m not putting up a spoiler here for those who haven’t. For those who do, I’m pretty sure you know which part I’m referring to. Anyways, this show is good, maybe a bit like Johnny English but it’s definitely better (and smarter). Try not to miss it =)

My personal ratings for Get Smart :

▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▫▫ (8 out of 10)

My new toy

Stanley Screwdriver Tada~! My new toy! Before you start giving me the weird look...this screwdriver is really good I telling you! Gives you a firm grip and strength to tighten/loosen stubborn screws! This guy is awesome...best screwdriver I've ever used =D

However, I don't recommend you to use it on living things. Though for self-defense purposes maybe...

*sorry if the picture's a little bit blur. I got this from some site as I don't have cameras to snap my own pic*