Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Treasure Your Loved Ones!!

The end is approaching!! I don't really wanna think about it but the countdown that has been goin' on on facebook keeps reminding me about that! 10..9..8...7... Most of my friends will be leavin' in less than a week....what?!?! Are you kidding me?? It seems like it wasn't that long ago since we first met 9 months ago and now itz time to say goodbye?? Itz sad...but the fact is...our amazing UGRAD journey is coming to an end real soon!! :(

Have been busy busy lately coz gotta study for finals and also work on projects these 2 weeks...procrastinating again...this is what happens towards the end of the semester. I keep wanting to update my blog but couldn't get myself to start typing...I admit...I'm not a good writer...that's why I'm in accounting...haha!! :p

Apr 12: Celebrating easter with Anna's family

I've been spending the past few weekends with Anna's family. I haven't really mentioned much about them in my previous posts, but in fact, they've been quite a big part of my life here in the US. As compared to bro, I'm very lucky to have Anna as my roomie. Even though she's younger than me, she's been a great 'host'...taking care of me - this Malaysian since I came here....haha!! :p 

Coming to this foreign land...thousands of miles away from home & family, their family is like my 2nd family here in US. I'm very blessed to get to know their family...Donna, Donny, Daniel, Anna, Pawpaw, Leslie, & Nana...everyone of them have been treating me like part of their family.   

Weekends with the family!! :)

Spending time with American family over the past few months has really gave me the opportunity to understand more about the culture, lifestyle, & family values here. Being an 'outsider' observing the daily life of another family and how others' family communicate with each other is indeed a great learning experience. Be it positive or negative, there's always something to learn...and it also reflects what kind of person I am in my family.

Most people tend to take things for granted...especially when it comes to family. Sometimes, we treat friends nicer than our family...we would rather show our temper to family and not friends. We might have done or said things that we didn't really mean to and hurt the feelings of our family. I admit, I've made the same mistakes too. I'm still learning to be a better person and I believe that change is incremental...coming here has definitely taught me to appreciate what I have now.

One of my friend lost her mom recently and it made me realize how vulnerable life is. I still remember talking to her mom about coming to US few days before I flew over here...itz juz hard to believe that she's gone now. I was chatting with my friend recently and she said that her mom is very proud of us and is very happy that her daughter have us as friends. These words almost made my cry. 

Sometimes, we need to stop for a moment and look back at what we've missed in life. We can't turn back time to change the past and we won't know what's gonna happen tomorrow either...but remember...everyday is an opportunity to make things better...live life without any regrets!! 

"Life's short...treasure your loved ones, do something special, give them a surprise, thank them for what they have done for you and...say I LOVE YOU...before it is too late!!"

Sweet Home Alabama~!!

Friday, April 3, 2009

Spring Break Getaway

Re-visiting New York & DC ~ 16-19 March 2009
Whoops...I'm lagging behind on my updates...AGAIN!!! :p Nothing much have been goin' on with school lately, juz usual routine. It still takes me forever to combine my pics...haha...took too many pictures. I really love my new camera!!! :) Spring break was 2 weeks ago and most people went to the beaches, but I traveled up north to New York & Washington DC for the chilly weather instead...haha!! I've been to NY & DC last December but the main reason this time was to attend the World Learning Global UGRAD Re-Entry Workshop in DC.

I am a city lover. I love skyscrappers & the hustle & bustle of city life...but of course there're still some aspects that I don't like. I've been to big cities like Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul, LA...and New York City!! I love NY and I was really excited the first time I went. I don't know why but I wasn't as excited this time, I guess itz coz I've been to most attractions already. As compared to NYC...DC is a nicer city.

Me, Uyanga & Htet flew from Huntsville to DC Ronald Reagan airport...transit at Detroit.

Arrived Washington DC & walked around Chinatown.

Chinese food for dinner...we ate as slow as we could to kill time while waiting to board our bus to NY at 11pm...hehe!!

Continued 'killing' time at Starbucks...bro is like a piggy...sleeping everywhere...

Finally arrived NYC!! First stop...famous bagel for breakfast...Daniel's???



Grand Central Station at 8am rush hour...women & 'men in black' suits...looked so pro...this is NY!!

St. Patrick's Day Parade...the marching bands were much better than the ones I saw during Mardi Gras.

The supa-dupa luxurious street...Fifth Avenue!!

Trump Tower...I was 'fired'...juz took the lift down...haha!!

The Apple Store in NY...I want everything here can ar...so cool la!!

'Over-working' my awesome camera in Central Park...such a nice park in the middle of this big city...me likey likey!!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=69992&id=557008610&l=c02eaa1054

"Pretty woman...walking down the streets...pretty woman...JULIA ROBERTS~!!" Oh yeah oh yeah...I can't believe we were soooo lucky to see Julia Roberts at Broadway...she was there for the 'Late Show with David Letterman'...that was sooo awesome!!

Dim Sum for brunch at Chinatown...it was sooo good!! 6 items for $36...equals RM126...for 2 person only...OMG~~!!

Egg Tarts!!!! I love egg tarts!!! The freshly baked Portugease egg tart was so yummy!!

Walking around Chinatown & Soho...killing my poor legs....ouchh!!

It took us more than an hour to walk across Brooklyn Bridge...coz we stopped every 5 steps to take pictures...hehe!! :p

Check out this link for more pics:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=70020&id=557008610&l=bf3026616d

Breathtaking Manhattan view from Brooklyn

Walking around NYC on nasty rainy day...introducing the 'latest fashion for 2009' in front of Times Square NYC.

I've only managed to finish combining the NY pictures...still lots more updates for the Re-Entry workshop in DC. Stay tuned! :) Time flies...it is now the last month of our program and most of my friends in UAH will be flying back home on Apr 30. Feels like it was just not long ago when we 1st arrived...doesn't seem like 8-months have passed by...wow!! This month-end is gonna be filled with mixed emotions...this UGRAD journey have been a fulfilling experience for everyone of us. :)