Pre-Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is just 27 hours away. I felt as if it was only yesterday we celebrated CNY 2008. Now is 2009.

Last year, my aunty from KL surprised my grandma by arriving at KIA at 12 midnight on CNY. She's the one person staying in KL with her husband and hardly come back home. But last year, grandma was not in good health, hence aunty was advised to return and pay her a visit. The plan was carried out by my brother who is currently staying with her in KL on job purposes. When it was 10pm, my brother had to tell my grandma the surprise visit.. so as not to scare her to death when aunty appears at her room. But grandma was too taken aback that she didn't know how to react..and she ended up, instead of sleeping - going to the airport to await her daughter's arrival. That was the "fun" part.

This year, aunty might come back.. if there's any chance of a last minute seat in AirAsia or MAS. but we'll see. And grandma has already been foretold.. in case anything happens. But still on a 50/50 decision making status.

As I drove back home today, I saw many houses being beautifully decorated. Lanterns, pineapples, lion heads, red cloth.. not forgetting seeing people washing their carporch with pressure cleaners, instead of the usual scrubbing..(Cinderella way). Also some richer families would hire workers to paint their fence and walls. All for the sake of welcoming the new Chinese year in the lunar calendar - the year of the Ox.

Then I thought, it must have been quite a lot to spend on the decorations. They're definitely not cheap! I went to survey the prices and the cheapest lantern (made of cheap red paper) costs RM2 at least. And mind you, they're really cheap - and lowest of qualities. The nicer ones cost at least RM10 and above. Those huge lanterns cost RM28 each, and usually a pair would be most suitable to have. In the end mum and I decided on something else more worth the money..I think. Just enough to bring out that cheerful spirit of new year. I have this sort of thinking that it's not what you put on the outside for people to see or admire.. it's what really lies inside yourself and your family that is the true meaning of new year.

So yea, pre-new year preparations are not done yet. And I'm down with terrible flu and sore throat to add to the hustle and bustle, slowing the work down and causing unnecessary inconveniences to family members. Pray that by new year's day all sickness will be gone!

Till then, HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!


-little cup-

Journey to the Centre of the Earth - Yourself

Today feels different than any other days. It was sunshine when I woke up but now the clouds are hovering and shedding tears of 'sadness', maybe because of the current recession causing an impact to everyone. But is that the real reason the sky cried?

A sudden thought struck me as I watched the rain fell with sweeping cold wind. It was alright just a while ago - happiness, sunshine, joy. Now it's all gloomy, cold, low. I'm not sure how it all linked together but I asked myself, am I like that too?

We as humans have our own pride. We have ego that prevent ourselves from doing the thing right, than doing what is right. Many times I questioned myself, why can't I just be who I am. Who I really am, deep inside. Whom God created in the first place.

Why do I always put a smile on my face when meeting people and yet when I am all alone, only then I dare to strip myself off naked and reveal the total inside of me. Why am I wearing masks. Why can't I be true to myself. Why. Why.

When will I ever make the journey to see the real me, and reveal the truth to others, instead of hiding them all inside, unknown. How long more will it be till this life is lived to its fullest.

The journey is hard, but there will be a time when all be unveiled. I can't wait - yet I wish the time won't come too soon..


-little cup-

New Direction

It has been a week since I last posted a word here. Since this a new year, I shall have a new direction in writing my future blogs. I suppose if you have been following me, you would have noticed the turn I was making after.. something happened. (I'll skip that, though you might be curious what it is all about.)

Holidays just went by. Students going back to school and exams will be the next thing to not look forward to. Well for me, exams are just ..well, exams. As long as you do what you need to do as a student, things will be just fine.

I myself now just started new semester. 4 subjects for a long 14-week semester. 2 very new subjects, and 2 learnt-before subjects. I guess it wasn't too bad, just that a lot of reading must be done to keep up with the class. With that, I'll need to develop a new way to adapt to the new direction I'm heading, and wish me luck! Haha. It ain't easy..

Now that the floods just passed by, and a lot of cleaning had to be done, I suppose it's good also to lessen the last minute cleaning works to celebrate the coming Chinese New Year, for those celebrating it. For those who are not, well, cleaning is also good in a way how many times do you clean your house anyway? I hope you get my message. New routine to adapt.. (yearly cleaning!)

For now, it'll be quite a tight schedule for me due to my no-lectures-day at TC office. Also IYCS stuff will stick to me until June. I suppose everything happens for a purpose. When you have many things, MORE things will be given unto you. God knows the limit you can handle, and he will not give you more than that. =)


-little cup-

Ring Ring!

This morning, EARLY in the morning my mobile phone rang. Since I have the tendency to leave it on at night, in case of emergency etc, this time the phone was right NEXT to my ear! And it rang SO loud that I woke up IMMEDIATELY!

Lesson: Do not leave your phone un-silent-ed at night, next to your ear!

So this caller, some unknown number.. was asking for Amy or something like that. It's a male voice. 2.55am.

Guy: Hello Amy (Aimi or something similar) ?

Me: Hah.. who Amy?

Guy: Amy Amy.. you Amy?

Me: Me (drowsy) ..no Amy here. Sorry wrong number..

Guy: Who are you?

Me: I'm.. (pause - suddenly conscious he's asking for my personal details) Who ARE you?

Guy: Amy Amy.. (repeated this name, ignored my question)

Me: Sorry no Amy, wrong number. Bye. *ends call.*


Immediately after that, I was aware that the caller might be playing a prank on me or trying to get information out of me from that sub-conscious mind of mine, or just trying to be funny whatsoever. I switched the phone to silent mode and tried to get back to sleep but the phone rang the second time and vibrated loudly so I took the phone and ended it without answering. The next moment before I knew it, I switched it off - for good.

When I woke up for the day, I switched it on and found a message coming in with 7 missed calls from that unknown number, which made me a little paranoid on what the caller would do etc.. I tried to ignore the incident but it kept striking me from behind my head..until lunch when it rang with similar number, and I answered him in BM that there's no Amy and he's calling the wrong number.. And he actually understood. He knew BM better than English, so maybe that explains his desperation to get to me that early morning. (with language miscommunications!)

Until now I have not heard of him..which is GOOD. I shall keep my phone on vibration mode at night starting from now onwards, in order to save myself from unwanted sound waves at 3am in the morning. That might just cause me ear damage.. hmm. Be careful.


-little cup-

New Year, New Start

This new year started off well. I suppose it's the best, yet. Starting off with God being the first person to focus on at the strike of midnight was something money can never buy.

10 minutes to 00:00 hours, we prayed silently. I was somehow.. blank. I didn't know what to tell God, or what to pray for. My mind was blank, if not blank would be full of unrelated thoughts. I wasn't focussed.

Then a thought came to me, "Be patient and wait for what i have planned for you." Job 36. This verse I got during the Inside Out program at Doulos - It struck me again. Then I recalled 2008. From the start of 1st Jan till that moment 31st Dec. Too many memories flashed back. Sweet ones, bitter ones.. Happy memories, hurtful memories.. and tears flowed. I didn't know why tears ran down my cheek, but I knew it was a sign that I was willing to let go of the past, and look forward to future. And I lifted up 2008 to God, being assured that 2009 would be a great year with even MORE blessings!

Indeed 2009 is not a disappointment. It is a beginning of a new phase of life - older teen life. I just closed my previous chapter of young teen life. Being legal is not something everyone yearns to be, because responsibility comes in on you fully and decisions are made by ownself. Maturity is something one must have in order to survive the coming years.

Just symbolically, I started off my new life chapter with room cleaning. All the previous years of 'young teen life' stuff were taken all out and replaced with 'older teen life' stuff. It was a tough adjustment as the cleaning actually took 3 days (until today not totally finished yet!) and I thought, how long will I really need in real life, to adjust myself to this new phase?

I suppose new beginnings have new challenges. And new challenges ought to be harder than the previous years'. But that's the fun of it - to learn and grow in maturity. If one never face challenges, how would one ever grow?

For me, up to today 7th Jan, I have been entrusted with new responsibilities which I never encountered in my past years, and I can tell you all these will continue to shape me to be who I am supposed to be in future. These are all part of the training. Tough as it is, I believe only God can guide me through it.

I will update more on these, when I have 'spare' time from those responsibilities! =)


-little cup-

Turning a Year Older

Birthday is usually the day to anticipate for gifts, wishes, hugs, etc.. My recent birthday was one out of my expectation. It opened my eyes to see how many wonderful friends I had and how much they've supported me all these while.

Let me talk about how it was on my birthday.

I was online on the eve of my birthday and chatted with a friend till past midnight. Sharp at midnight, my phone started beeping with incoming messages. And it didn't stopped till 10 minutes later. As soon I started reading the messages, more came in and filled my inbox. It took me almost the whole hour to reply every single one. But it was a great moment to know many friends care about you and remember you.

I went to sleep at 1.15am, after the messages stopped coming in. (I suppose most people were sleeping already.) I actually fell asleep already when my phone rang loudly! (at around 2am) and woke me up from sleep immediately. I was at first annoyed at the disturbance because I had to wake up early (5.30am) to start my day.. But the surprise phone call was really shocking;

The caller was outside my house.

I didn't know what to do, or how to react to a surprise like that. But I gratefully accepted the cake and presents over the gate from that 'crazy' friend of mine.

I couldn't sleep after that, but finally did at 3.30am. Woke up at 5.45am (late by 15 minutes), and more messages were found in my inbox. The day started naturally. Breakfast with parents at Kenyalang Market. Then hung around at dad's office, before going out for brunch with 2 friends and parents got dragged along.

The lunch was at Elephant, Jalan Ang Cheng Ho. It's quite a nice place except that it rained and shone at the same time. My friends paid for my meal - ice-cream on top of a piece of chocolate cake. That was enough for my lunch. We all ended up with full stomachs after that. And the nicest thing was, the shop guy played birthday song for me from the cd. How sweet. More phone calls came during lunch, and all were with birthday wishes. Lovely.

Afternoon was spent at IYCS meeting. It was great to be alumni of YCS and back with new (future leaders) faces. From there, more birthday wishes and hugs were given and these thoughts kept me awake from my lack of sleep and full stomach.

After the meeting, sent friends back home and talked a lot about a certain topic. It was really to nice to have friends who would listen to you and offer support. I enjoyed my time with them. They really made up my day and fulfilled my wishes. Thank you, you two.

Got home at 6pm, and finally rested for 10 minutes. The next minute my dog barked and the door bell rang. I went out much to my surprise and a delivery parcel appeared at my doorstep, from another close friend who was away in another town. The parents of that friend sent it to me, much to my awkwardness. But I have been close to them, so more wishes and hugs were given.

Dinner was at 7.30pm, and parents drove me to Fork and Knife where couple of friends decided to meet (on dutch). I was there at 7 with my own birthday cake made by one aunty from church. Friends only started arriving at 7.20 so I sat alone at that long table reading the menu and phone messages while waiting. The distracting part during dinner was the phone calls! But I still appreciate how friends you do not expect will remember your birthday, actually called to wish happy birthday. These friends are silent ones, I call. At one point I talked so long outside the shop that the bills got paid and it was too late for me to pay for own (since I was told we pay for own food). When I approached the shop owner for my cake and enquired about the bill and who paid, he realized it was my birthday because I asked for my cake, and just simply told me "Santa paid for it." Amazed, I just let things be and thanked God for these lovely friends.

After the dinner, we planned to go to Friendship Park, and while deciding on which car to go in to, a motorbike dashed past us, and a girl ran after it shouting, "My bag, my bag!" All happened so fast, and we found out the girl's bag got snatched while she was reading. I felt so sad for her, and we didn't know how to help her.. One friend gave chase with a car, but the bike was too fast and we missed it.

All the same, we went to the park and waited for another friend to come. The mood changed then; the girls were quite taken aback by that incident and I myself felt insecure to leave the car after that. But we stuck together and chatted till it rained, then the rain stopped and only quite late that friend arrived. But all was fun, not the part where I couldn't guess the number (silly game).. and some started going home since it was late.

Those remained chatted till I was the only girl left, and I called for parents to pick. I got home, and minutes before midnight prayed for all that had happened, thanking God for His wonderful blessings. And I slept well that night, waking up after 8/9 hours of sleep.

And today (3rd Jan), I opened facebook etc, and at the very first page found a WHOLE list of birthday wishes. Currently still struggling to reply every message.

Overall, I just want to say

THANK YOU

to every single person who wished me, hugged me, gave me presents, thought of all the nice things to make my day special.. You guys made this birthday the BEST I ever had. May God bless you always!

=)


-little cup-
(apparently little cup has grown into a big cup)

Bye 2008, Hello 2009..

2008 went past so fast.. It felt as though only yesterday I graduated from school. Indeed time flies; before we know it, adulthood creeps our way. No more 'play-play' when deciding on things..

2008 has been a great year, a phase where new life lessons learnt and bad habits changed. It was an eye opener for me. There were so many happenings that ..even I myself could not list them in 5 minutes or less. For past years I could, but not this special year. I can just say that 2008 is a blessing in disguise.

I'll tell you more in future blogs. For now, I got to prepare to enter legal-ity! Haha.

To all, have a pleasant new year of 2009! =)


-little cup-