New Semester

Tomorrow marks my 6th semester in this university. The challenges ahead are tough, an easy time is not expected. With what like 2 of the big subjects plus 2 small ones (yet not easy, it seems) waiting for me in 3-4 months, and the pressure to complete them fast as that is what are expected of me ("you have to get used to it, because that's what 4th year is gonna be like... one exam per week...so you'd better start doing it now...", they said with a confident face), I'm not doubtful that it's gonna be very difficult for me.

Somehow, sometimes it annoys me when people belittle my fear and concerns. maybe they are looking at things from their perspective, and totally forget that what is easy for them may not be at all for me, or perhaps it's their way of saying "it's ok, it's gonna be fine, you will make it because it really is no big deal"... Of course, I'm very grateful that many of them have given me lots of encouragement and support in the past, no matter what they thought of my ridiculous stress.

I long to be understood, but apparently this wish remains a wish, at least when it comes to this aspect... abilities, born IQ, stress... *sigh*

(I actually started writing this post with the intention of producing something motivating, and I have no idea how it became like what was written above).

Anyway, as my friend said "nothing is impossible, because what we've been doing all these while were impossible"... I pray that no matter how dark the future seems to be, how many challenges are hidden along the way and waiting to ambush, with God's grace I'll complete this race a champion, not a coward.

I often ask why I suffer so much due to my emotional weakness... but everytime I can only settle with the answer that it is like what a silversmith does with silver - refining it in the furnace, eyes fixed steadily on the work of purifying, and only when he sees his reflection on it, he knows the work is finally done.

"His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best interest for us. Our trials do not come at random, and He will not let us be tested beyond what we can endure"

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

Romans 5:3-4 NLT

Wantun mee

我朝思暮想的云吞面。

人在异乡,想吃就只好自己动手。好在云吞真的蛮不错的,嘿嘿 （自卖自夸 =P）

Shopping

Went shopping two days in a row. Today it was Letnany we went to. 4 hours plus of hunting and I came back home with some really good deals!

Time

Time flies. Less than one week till summer semester starts *gasp*

The holiday was blissful and eventful. Thank God for the good foods, good gathering with friends (record-breaking 8 hours' chat with Estella and Phyllis, having Malaysian Chinese foods with Indian and Bostwanian friends from church, and our "Bachelors' Party" for the singles on Valentine's Day, lol), good rest when I'm not watching dramas overnight, and rare good dramas!

Another "Valentine's Day"

What some others celebrated with roses, cards, romantic dinners and sweet words, we celebrated with foods, chit-chatting and card games.

Immortal?

We were on the subject of "aging" the other day in a Pathobiochemistry lecture, and we basically talked about what exactly makes us age, and what conditions have to be fulfilled by a cell for it to be immortal. As the lecturer was talking about how scientists discovered why hydra (A minute freshwater coelenterate with a stalklike tubular body and a ring of tentacles around the mouth) show no sign of senescenece or mortality, which was that they could replace every cell in their bodies with new cells, there was this sentence that particularly caught my attention:


Even if (the replacement of every cell) achieved in humans by engineered stem cells, replacement of neuronal cells with change mind and wipe memories...


Imagine that you're offered immortality in exchange of your mind and memories... do you wanna live forever? All the sweet (of course, and bitter) memories will be wiped away, just so that a mere physical body could live on, and all the personality and talents that make you the unique you would be altered... that sounds like a body without a soul to me. And that, isn't a real life. 


Oo.. and then that reminds me of this, though not quite relevant... 


And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? ~Matthew 16:26 NLT

The end of one decade of Harry, Ron and Hermione

After some amount of arrangements with cousins, parents, aunt and uncle and brothers (ya...), I finally got to go to Melaka GSC cinema for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2, in 3D! I wouldn't want to spend extra money for 3D effects normally, but seeing that this was the last Harry Potter film ever, I wanted something special! =p

Harry is too centred in this poster in my opinion. I like the Trio together more than Harry The Hero.

I've been following this series since movie one to movie eight, that's from when I was 11 to when I'm 21! A good 10 years of fascination, even though I can't deny they weren't exactly very good movies. Ya, I'm one of those who tolerated the movies for the sake of the books, hehe...

At long last I'm sure that I'm NOT being biased when I say: This movie is awesome! And the 3D effects just added to its awesomeness, minus that fact that I felt uncomfortable at the beginning not being used to the effects. The fighting were great, and the scenes go smoothly from one to the next, especially the scenes of Battle of Hogwarts, which was gripping from the beginning to the end! I must say that this is the only movie in the whole series which I have no major complaints about (luckily...). Of course it would have been more thrilling if I wasn't so familiar of the story =p

That is to say, this movie was really nice to watch, since I'm not a hard-core fan who compares every single detail of the movie to the book. Some pretty good scenes in the book are missing from the movie, but there's no way a movie can capture everything from the book, just like the movie has effects that can't be presented by the written words unless helped with our own imagination. So, despite the modification and cutting out of original storylines, I really did enjoy it very much =D

Forgive me for the overloading of pictures in this post... it's that last one already anyway =p Ok one VERY LAST one.... cuteness that caught my attention 10 years ago =p

Zvikov and Orlik

Before I could upload photos of saliva-stimulating photos of Malaysian foods, let's talk about the wonderful trip I had with 3 close friends in South Bohemia before we went our separate ways...... for this summer holiday =D. We've done our exams and renewal with visa, and that left us with nothing to do before we could fly back home, so what could be better than a nice trip together?

It was recommended by a Czech friend for its scenery, and after some research online, my friends discovered these places called Zvikov and Orlik. It was the most remote place I've visited in Czech Republic. We took a bus in the morning, and as the bus got nearer to our destination, the road became narrower and with less traffic. When we got off the bus, we were actually the only group of people walking on the road! After some walking we finally reached the tourists spot where we could see a number of tourists, but it was really very quiet if compared to other places we've been. One thing we've noticed, we could hardly see any Asian faces, in contrary to other tourists' attractions in this country. I think it just proves that it's one of the hidden treasure that's difficult to find without recommendation of a local.

Zvikov (credit: online source)

part of Vltava River 

group photo! 

it was a relaxing place with little crowd, perfect for chilling =p

small castle by the river

Zvikov and Orlik were a short distance away from each other, we first visited Zvikov, then we took a boat to Orlik, enjoying the green scenery along the river =). 

the closest thing the Czechs have to a sea?

It was a windy day and we weren't wearing anything thick. In fact I was shivering most of the time, but I'm glad we went on this trip, despite its lack of... exciting stuffs. Who says peace and quiet doesn't make a good outing? =)

From Prague to Home

Home!! =D

I've reached Muar last Wednesday Thursday early morning and haven't had a day without some amazing Malaysian foods since then!

Another academic year has passed in a glimpse of an eye. It feels just like yesterday when I headed home with a heavy heart and defeated spirit. It has truly been God's blessings that I've manage to finish 2nd year smoothly this time, however impossible it seemed to be.

I was feeling quite unsafe, taking my first exam (Physiology) on a very early date, the first day possible. It had always occurred to me as what the geniuses do, taking the pre-term and finishing off the exams before everyone else does. However due to a period of absence of possible exam dates in July and August, I had no choice but to push myself forward despite a bit of uncertainty. Besides, deep in my heart I was craving for a true summer holiday as I counted myself never knowing it. It was a great experience taking pre-term exams. Weak as I was in the face of stress, I was miraculously relatively (compared to previous exams) calm in the last week before the exam, as I trusted not in my own strength.

Unfortunately the second exam (Biochemistry) managed to dig out my fear and everything. I had 3 weeks plus to prepare, which was considerably short compared to the at least 2-month preparation I did for Physiology. I was losing in the struggle against stress and fear and would have given up if it had not been because of the support from family and amazing friends ='D. The trust and faith I had before Physiology exam was no where to be found and all day long I was worried and scared when I think of how much more I needed to study. I was basically mourning for my "gone" summer holiday already. I allowed past experience to speak convincingly to me, telling me that since I could fail once, I could fail twice. At this point, I realized that my so-called "faith" was sill dependent on circumstances, and I questioned my worth in God's eyes.

*fast forward*

As you probably have guessed, my second exam went great... my examiner was kind and understanding!

Up next, was another important stuff I had to do before I could come back - renewing the visa. For those who had booked a good time, it wasn't as bad as previous years, but as the date I was able to book was too late, I queued up early in the morning to make sure I get a number, and could get it done before the office closes. By "early morning", I mean 12am, so a friend and I left house at 11.30pm the previous day. It was rather dark in the the surrounding of the building, and there was no one else except a big spider, a huge slug and a busy hedgehog, so honestly I was really relieved to see police patrol car twice during the night, haha! Thank God people started arriving at 3am+ (who were Malaysians too!). We formed a big gang directly in front of the door and blocked some really rude people, which are the majority, from cutting queue! ^^ v

*fast forward*

Booking an air ticket with low price was "exciting" as well, there weren't many cheap and comfortable flights available, so at one point I thought all the tickets were sold out. After refreshing the Emirates webpage, which is famous for it's fluctuating flight seats availability and price, countless time, I was able to book a nice one, ignoring the 10-hour transit I had to endure in Dubai airport...

I'm really thankful to be home, and I truly appreciate this limited time when I couldn't care less about studies =p

Hehe sorry for the lack of photos in this post, would try my best to post more pictures next! =)

Stronger (Acoustic version)

Original version

Hey, heard you were up all night
Thinking about how your world ain't right
And you wonder if things will ever get better
And you're asking why is it always raining on you
When all you want is just a little good news
Instead of standing there stuck out in the weather

Oh, don't hang your head
It's gonna end
God's right there
Even if it's hard to see Him
I promise you that He still cares

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
And things can only get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger
Gonna make you stronger, stronger, stronger
Believe me, this is gonna make you ...

Try and do the best you can
Hold on and let Him hold your hand
And go on and fall into the arms of Jesus
Oh, lift your head it's gonna end
God's right there
Even when you just can't feel Him
I promise you that He still cares

'Cause if He started this work in your life
He will be faithful to complete it
If only you believe it
He knows how much it hurts
And I'm sure that He's gonna help you get through this

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
In time it's gonna get better
Believe me This is gonna make you stronger