Hello Nagoya!

I'm currently sitting here in my room, in Nagoya, Japan, typing this blog as the weather outside is quite gloomy today. Its been around 5 days since I arrived here. How has it been? It's been really exciting, fun yet challenging! Why? Cause everything is in Japanese!!!

For the past 5 days, I remember:

-Checking my phone dictionary in almost every sentences I make during conversation.

-The awkward moment when you and your friend stares blankly at each other, not understanding each other.

-Writing all the new vocabularies I've learn for the day in a book. (on average 10 new vocabs a day!)

-Looking through that book every night before I sleep.

It has been a real challenge for me, since it's the first time that I've used Japanese so often in my life. Back in Australia, it was only 4 hours of class a week and even so, we spoke English most of the time. But now, I'm using Japanese everyday! Each time I step out from my room, I know I will need to switch back to Japanese mode.

Apart from that, it has been REALLY GREAT!!!! People are very kind and friendly, and making new friends are always fun, isn't it? =D

This was the first night at I-House, my dormitory. The caretaker brought some plum liquor and snacks for us, and it was the first time we actually get to know each other!

And also, we had a city tour yesterday by the NUFS(Nagoya University of Foreign Studies) students. We went to the castle and also some shops in the city. The weather was terrible but apart from that, it was great fun!

Toshu, Koroko and Miki, the ones that brought us around.

Although sometimes I do feel a little stressed up when it comes to conversing, reading and even getting farmiliar with this new place, I'm determine to enjoy every moment of it!

I've just experienced another miracle.

So....I went through a period of time where I lost the semangat to blog again. And now I look back, wow 4 months have passed! Semester is over, waiting for results which will be out this Sat. *fingers crossed*

Anyway, the story of today is quite extra ordinary. See....I've been trying to sell my stuff these few days, and my car is 1 of them. So like how I advertised the other stuff, I posted pictures and info of my car on Gumtree last week. Mysteriously, I received an sms from a guys saying he was willing to pay me 700AUD more than the original price I offered (which was 1300$). I felt suspicious initially but I decided to give it a try so I contacted him.

 My car which I am trying to sell....

Cut the whole story short, I received an invoice from Paypal saying he has paid 2600$ to my account, but I'll need to first pay his agent 600$ for the pick up fee because he would not be able to personally come and pick it up. Not suspecting anything, I did it through western union. Somehow, the transaction was declined for some strange reason. Still not suspecting that it was a scam, I went to the post office to make the payment. However, there was not enough money in my account to pay him because my money which was declined haven't bounced back to me. So I thought I would wait till Monday(today) to make the payment.

Last night, my previous lifegroup leader warned me not to make the payment because she said it was a scam! She said her friend and herself have experienced this before and it's fake! I nearly dropped dead when I heard it, fearing that it's too late and the money had gone to him. Today, I checked my account and saw that the money did bounced back to me and the transaction really did not go through. I was overjoyed!

Truly, it is a miracle. Somehow, the money miraculously did not go through for some reason. It was God that intervened. THANK YOU JESUS!

"The LORD will keep you from all harm, He will watch over your life"-Psalm 121:7

Oxygen Ball 2011

Wow....just a glance and it's Week 6 of uni tomorrow, when my last post was about sem starting. Guess I don't realise the time flying so fast is because it's been such a eventful few weeks, with Oxygen activities every week, work, and studies to juggle with at the same time. Well, the past few Oxygen event was really fun, but last night was the best because it was.......OXYGEN'S 1ST EVER BALL!!!!

Here are some of the pics...*Go to my Facebook to see all the pics!*

 Wing Hang with her little post....

 Amy, Doreen and Claire...3 pretty girls!

Juliana with her cute dimples.....

 Yvonne....U look stunning!

 Natasha....cheerful as always!



Abby....The planner for the whole event. The one behind all the set up and deco. She was brilliant! And of course, Abby u look awesome!


Now for some good looking guys.....

 Yew Gene, Jeremy, Kavi and Caleb....Don't they look good?

 Hanxzen and Zack....Bros of life!

Oxygen Ball committee 2011....Congrats guys, we did it! =)

Phew, finally everything is over! All the planning and stressing before that but it was all worth it. Really enjoyed myself and I'm sure everyone did!

Another semester starts tomorrow.

Can't believe it's the end of winter holidays. 3 weeks just like that.....in a flash. Well it has been a good break for me though and I hope it was a good break for you too! *if it's relevant to you* =P

So tomorrow will be the beginning of a new semester, new adventure, new challenge. I'm actually quite excited about it. Don't know why.

Maybe because I'm entering my final year now.

Maybe because I wanna avenge for my disappointment of one of my result where I missed 2 marks to get a Distinction. It still pains me a little when I think of it. I'm sure this pain will inspire me to do better next sem.

One of my strengths have always been bouncing back from disappointments. I always come back stronger.

So wish me luck for the new semester. In Christ, I can! =)

Anyway, just wanna share this song with you. I have been quite addicted to this song lately and admiring these 2 sweet pretty girls, Jayesslee! =P

Curry mee!!!

What is your favourite hawkers food?

For me, curry mee is definitely one of them! Well, it is also known as curry laksa in other places (most places actually) and internationally. In Penang, it's known as curry mee because it clashes with our unique asam laksa. *And I actually don't really like asam laksa. Weird for a Penangite to say that right? I love coconut milk and I'll take anything lemak over asam anytime!*

Made curry mee for the 1st time. Yum! Super success not because I am pro, but because the paste was super awesome. *Nowadays cooking is not a big deal lar....all also instant packet tipu one.*

Combine ice skating outing tomorrow with Northington lifegroup. It's been a while since I last ice skated here. Can't wait! =D

Revival starts from us.

This post is a follow up on what happened on the 9th of July. We all know what happened. Don't need for further elaboration. However, what do you see in these pictures?


People whom were physically challenged were there.

This woman, 65 years old, took a bus by herself down to KL to make her stand.

Police brutally firing tear gas towards the brave crowd who stood for their country.

Police beating up and arresting this helpless citizen for his conviction.

This is the most touching of all: The Malays sat down to pray for Malaysia when the police started firing towards them.

What do you see? If these images don't move you, or stir you up, you really gotta ask yourself about your own conviction. It's funny how people can still complain that because of this rally, they did not get to enjoy their weekend shopping or they did not get to make business, when these people out there were fighting for the future of Malaysia. This just shows plain IGNORANCE. Yes, people can be so ignorant and selfish. No sense of gratitude or appreciation whatsoever. All they know is to complain.

And saddest thing is when Christians also make a mockery of these whole thingy, saying that this rally is silly or a waste of time. It just breaks my heart when Christians do that. Fair enough if your conviction is not to participate in this, and I totally respect that. But to mock people for gathering peacefully and standing for what is right is just ridiculous.

And we claim that we worship the God of righteousness and justice, yet we cannot differentiate between a righteous act and an evil act. Yet we fail to stand up for justice when it matters. When other people from all religious background can do it, we failed. If the Malays could risk their safety to gather on the streets to pray for the country, if the disabled and the elderly people could make their stand despite all the danger and obstacles, what more us? The young, energetic people who claims to be the children of God.

C'MON PEOPLE, WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT!!!!

It's time that we also make our stand, and make a difference. Revival and change starts from us. If we're going to continue to just remain silent with no actions, we can forget about any changes, or revival.

I totally believe in prayers. And yes, we need to have faith. But it's also time we take more action.

^"14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?" -James 2:14

Doa Untuk Malaysia

If you are a Malaysian, this post is for you.

Are you sick of all the dirty politics, the corruption and the abuse of power going on in our country? Honestly, I'm seriously sick of it, and any true Malaysians would feel the same way. I'm not interested in who is right or wrong, or which party is ruling the country. I just want a better Malaysia, a corruption-free country because I love Malaysia.

If you studied Marketing before, you would learn about the 80-20 rule. That only 20% of your buyers are heavy buyers while 80% are actually light buyers. And that applies in our everyday life. Isn't it? That 20% of the church people will do 80% of the work. That majority of people would only complain and do nothing while those who actually do something are the minority. I see this everywhere, every time.

And this applies to Malaysians. That majority of us would just complain and complain about our government, the politics and all. But how many of us actually do something about it?

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that all of us gotta be politicians or something. But how many of us actually pray for our country? Or play our part in voting during elections? It's little things like this that makes a big difference. You can say "Aiyah...what can we do? Sure loose one lah. BN sure win one." or "I'm just fed up with Malaysia. I can't be bothered. Malaysia hopeless lah" or you can say "Yes, I'm gonna play my part and believe for a change."

And so I did.

Went to this Bersih gathering in Victoria Square today. The crowd was roughly 160 people. Not bad for the number considering the fact that it was raining throughout the day and it was freezing cold. Really glad to meet other Malaysians who were also passionate for a change in Malaysia. We peacefully gathered there to voice out for fair vote during elections and for dirty politics to stop. Just a statement of intent. Nothing else.

 

Me and my friends. WE ALL LOVE MALAYSIA!!!

And today's news back home was that 50 000 people actually braved the police force in KL to voice out for the country. Over 1600 people arrested for stupid reasons like they wore a yellow shirt. Many was sprayed with chemical waters and several injured/beaten up by the police. It was the police force that acted in violence and not the crowd. These people did it with a cost, but through this, I believe it will be a start of something new. So proud of everyone who took part in it. U GUYS ARE THE HEROES/HEROINES OF THE COUNTRY!!! For standing up for justice for the country.

Friends, changes just don't happen like this. It takes time, effort, perseverance and faith. It comes with a COST. Are you willing to pay the cost?

^"14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." -2 Chronicles 7:14