Droplets

It wasn't easy to wake up this morning. Has been raining since forever. Twice I walked out of the door this week and find myself dripping water by the time I reach uni. I've been trying hard to discipline myself, go uni and get some work done. But this morning is even worse, I can't even get my eyes open. The only thing that made me jump is the sound of his phone vibrating. He forgot his phone! So I came online to see his email on my inbox telling me so.

I've to go out today, post some cds then work on my client report. Before so, I went upstairs and made 'apam balik', pack them up and off to uni.

Somewhere in between apam balik making and bundling up before leaving the house, a thought came up.

"Who said, student overseas tak pandai masak masakan traditional?"

Not to say apam balik is our traditional food (or is it?) Pardon my lack of knowledge there. When I heard/read that, it made me ponder on the perception of our people to students studying overseas. If it were to be one of the locals here whom goes to overseas universities, studying; they would have been so proud of their people and further encourage their own people. Would they have been so caught up in the thought of criticizing them on something like that?

Once not long ago I saw trees along the streets at some residential area being decorated by the people there. Curiously, I asked around and finally learned that the tree doesn't belong to anyone, but the people took the initiative to decorate them accordingly to their seasons. It doesn't matter to them who does it, or whose items are on it, or whose money goes on to decorating it. To them, those who cared that much of thought, would've been considered selfish, inconsiderate, rude and greedy. I've heard people say, orang melayu susah nak maju sebab banyak perasaan dengki dengan orang lain, tamak nak cepat kaya, tak boleh buat lebih sikit dari orang lain, etc etc.. And I didn't know how to believe it. I didn't even give much thought to it and I haven't seen it happen in front of my eyes.

So few days ago, I just realized, it does happen a lot around me. I just didn't pick them. And now I wonder if others realize them and/or choose to ignore them?

Weapons

Geez it's such HUGE relief to finally know it's not due on 11th. Just got the word few seconds ago and now I'm blogging instead of going absolutely mental with my research and client report.

I wonder what happen to those people I knew back when I was young. Those smart-head, all perfect, big shot people in school where every teacher adores and friends admire for their intelligence, hard-working and shining results. Then I found some of them. Actually, one of them to be exact. She seemed to be doing all right.

Or so I thought.

I thought she would have gone off being "someone", somewhere. And perhaps turn out to be very successful with a great job. Honestly, I do. Mind you, this person had called me "stupid" right in my face once, and actually meaning it. "Lembu pun lagi pandai". I remember. Deeply. I also remember thinking, at that time, that someday when we're adults, I would like to see where she lands on. With admiration, not resentment. And now I got my answer.

Our path crossed some time ago. Few years back when I saw her and we spoke. Asking how things are and turned out to be. She's still with the guy that to her, I was the reason they met and feel in love (funny). No, not married. That was the only time we met/communicate. Ashamed? I don't know. Busy? I'd like to think so.

Now our path crossed again but in a different way. Her sister is so big now. No indication she's with that guy anymore. I wonder if she remembers the things we did together. She's running away again, I can tell. A nice person we all agree. But very sad.

I do care.
We share the same star sign. I went to her house once and we played make up/dress up together. I don't want to remember anymore the bad things we did to each other. I wonder if she needs help. I wonder if she wants to talk to someone. She seems to be on the edge, waiting to fall down.

I was angry for a while, I know. Making me think that my future is not worth knowing. I am not the brightest kid in school. Nor was I the one with excellent performance. There's NO WAY I'd be like them. They'd probably turn out to be doctors, lawyers, engineers. Get into universities and live to be rich, successful people. How wrong was I? Talk about false hope. Sighh..

But I still do mean about wishing her well. And for her to open up and be true to herself. I wish she will wake up and get back on track again. Potential, heaps. It shone brightly long time ago. I wish she'll get that back again someday.

I wish her a lot of things. Only good things.

Ordinary Day

Few days ago, he went almost bald. He looked exactly how he does now when we met for the second time 6 years ago. He was in his white with one black spotted (don't ask) car, wearing his shades while I get into the car and he drove off with his music blaring and the strong scent of Glade car fragrant.

i can still smell that car fragrant..

He's on his way to finishing up his proposal so he's been up at un-Godly hours to get it done. Adil and Haz seems busy warming up their laptops to doing assignments and books nearing final exams. As for me, it's my final semester. FINAL! Then I'm done (we'll talk about PhD's later, ok. Let me enjoy lil bit here)! This is it. The final. I hope I do myself, if not others proud.

Not that it's confirmed, but I do think quite fair bit about continuing on. Papa is all for it. If I do decide to continue on, it'll be all for you. I must admit, it is flattering to get the title but most of all, it's about making them proud. My education level, is all about them. I decided long time ago that I study to see how far I can push/get myself into being educated. Now, today, I'm already impressed I got this far. If I'm to go further, I'll be doing it to make my parents the proudest people on earth. They deserve it and much much more. To play favourites, especially papa.

Today I just realized my client report, research critique and assignment is due much sooner than expected. My printer's back home and not intending to get back any soon, I headed to uni printing out without any cost! The psychology post-grad lab allows post graduates access to internet and free printing so hallelujah! Oh it just goes to show how much time I spend in uni, eh? Now with close to 3 inches (and more coming) stack of research reports and notes to read, am in no position to move anywhere outside the university or the village compound. We have made a pact not to go out as much anymore and making this weeked our last outing weekend. Now it's time to increase my focus, hold on a bit longer and not to get distracted.

With that said, gotta now hit the books!

She's just a bitter, lonely person..

so why bother?

Couldn't have said it better. Maybe you're right baby.. just maybe, you are.

Which makes her such a sad person then. And now she's "running away", not just that, she's also giving out many reasons to show and tell, covering up how sad her life has been these past few weeks by masking up telling the whole world how "happy" she is running away. While perhaps reasoning and rationalizing her reasons too much it's beginning to sound like a cop-out.

But I still do care to some extent and that's why I did my part.. now let's see how much she does.

Hence, I wish her well, and for her to someday open her heart, eyes and perhaps brains as well to not only be honest to herself with her words, but also with her actions.

honestly.. how much dense can you get? sigh.. and we wonder how such a beautiful girl not able to hold a relationship? it's not only about the looks, it's also about the attitude and THAT has to be acknowledged! geez..

Like someone once said, too nice it makes her look so fake.

Changing Directions

Adik called tonite. After a rather long time (with him busy preparing for SPM and boarding school), we managed to talk. It was some talk.

It's a thought that he seemed to be turning to me seeking advises and opinions with regards to studies and future decision-making. He looks up to him, that I know for sure. To him, he is an intellectual, very intelligent and successful person and he wants to be like him. I know he has a lot of respect for him. Personally, I can understand the way he feels of him (well, because I think he is too). However, I wonder if he thinks the same way of me? And I wonder why.

Adik aspires to be a doctor since he begun to talk. Honestly, I can even see him as one and nothing else. And he follows the right path. He even got into a science school. Now, a little over 6 months before SPM, he change his mind. He got frustrated with mama one day not long ago when she was on his back about not studying enough. He left dinner early and went to his room, as I followed 10 steps behind him. That was the first time I heard him saying, "Kalau tak jadi doctor, tak boleh ke, kak?" I struggle hard not to sound like a counsellor but more of a sister/friend. Being a 'high explorer' to myself (Noela would've been so proud) is not enough and that nagging curiousity of the 'spin' got me thinking, where did it all went wrong?

So tonight he called, spilling out his thoughts and ideas. Trying to rationalize his actions and decisions. Somewhere between the lines, I reflected on the steps I took. We both actually had aspired to be doctors and he knows it. Only I changed my direction (and got lost many times) way much earlier than him. I suppose when I changed my 'gear' and went into Psychology; at his tender age, he would have seen me as a "quit-er" and thought that I'll fail in my journey. Because I did not follow the 'rules' of wanting something and sticking to it. The 'rules' that perhaps we both invented or was buried into us from our parents, without us realizing it - a very, very long time ago.

Perhaps the fact that I have reached this far, had me redeem myself from being a "quit-er". Who ever said it is wrong to make mistakes? To steer away from our 'focus' may mean we can never get it back? Perhaps we need to steer once in a while. Asking what "we" want rather than "why" we want it. As much as parents not living for their children, children don't live for their parents either. Yes, it would be the noble thing to do. Living for one another. Didn't someone wise said, human beings are selfish? We do try hard not to be.

I believe there are no self-less good deed.
Phoebe was right all along.

As for Adik, you can be what you want/choose to be. Just make that decision yours and yours alone. Make it so if it doesn't work out, it was your decision and you'll find you've no regrets.

We live as we create them to be.

Aha!

Yesterday I'm done with my patient, not to say he/she's completely "cured" (you don't get "cured" immediately unless you want so), but if in accordance to the Karkoff's model, we've gone through exploration and understanding mode and that's just where all the hard work ends, for me that is. For him/her, it's the action phase that'll hurt. Patient may relapse but that's something that we'll worry later on. As for tonight we're going out to celebrate! Well, actually me and him, we've already done some celebration last night, just the both of us. But it's Friday night tonight and we've made reservations.

For those who knew me considerably, they may (or not) know that I don't get bothered by things/people easily. You do your things, I do mine. You don't touch me, and I don't touch you. If I don't (or choose not to) join you, then I don't bother. Tempt me as you wish, if I get tempted, I'll go, if not, I won't. I find a lot of things a waste of time. My time, that is.

I suppose with my level of work/profession, it is easy to find that doing/worrying certain things is a waste of time.

Sitting on a session with a client of my colleague got me back to thinking, other people has other problems too. Every problem to a certain degree, holds to having the same concept of ideas/issues. The one that varies them are the intensity of humans accepting, handling and acknowledging them.

I value life. When there's life, there's hope. They say stop and smell the roses, I believe it is necessary. I believe to tasting every bit of everything. You'll never know what you like or don't like. I believe I've lived my life (so far) to the fullest. I believe I've had everything. I am thankful from the bad to the worst experiences I gained, the bitter I tasted and the irony of everything else. To me, I have had fame. I've been people's inspiration, I've been their dream. I've been all that and more. From my life experiences, I've touched the sky and I've been in the sky for long. I've gone up and I've gone down. I've seen people die, I've held their hands. I've crushed hopes and hearts. I've let many down. I've been to many places and stepped on many countries. I've made marks on many land.

From my life, I have been at the top for so long, I need to step down. Thank you baby for who you are, places you've been, ideas you've generate, thoughts you've shared. You've certainly made a better person of me.

In your own story.

All in One

So it's been a while. Nice to see you here.

As obvious, I was going full-on with things around me that I've not update my blog for a while. Let's see.. since last was the melon pan incident, man I can't even recall when that was and what had happened to the melon pan. Aida was around that night with her new hair-do. And that was early in the month!

Haywire.
I love chinese food. My mother, a Malay from Kelantan and my father, a Malay from Pahang but looks very chinese. In fact, most of his 13 siblings look chinese. If I remember correctly, arwah Tok (my father's stepmother) has a very kind, gentle chinese look. I don't know my real grandmother from Papa's side. She passed away when they were all young. Arwah Tokki (Papa's father) took care of all his 13 children til they are all big and independent before re-marrying. Very admirable.

I'm not sure where my preference to chinese food comes from. My taste bud must've gone mad somewhere through life experiences. Maybe I'm adopted? Nah, thought and researched on that one in primary school years. I am not adopted. Then I remember my mother's mom. Never met her. But according to Mama, she loves chinese food. She loves cooking too.

I have spoken too early.
Adil, Haz, him and I did catering service for JPA students on Monday night. It was tiring and I swore not to do this again while we were waiting for our transport. An hour later I changed my mind. Once seeing how the food goes and feedback given, the satisfaction is incredible. It's almost the same feeling felt after organizing Makcha's wedding reception. I couldn't care how much profit I get at this point of time. It was satisfying.

We went buying things on Friday night and preparing from then on. I'd have to say, if catering is fully my responsibility and in my hands from the beginning, I would have been more dedicated to it. Oh no, don't get me wrong. Everything is a success. Perhaps I was relying and expecting a bit more to it. He puts it well, if I were to do this again, I'll give this experience one more look and prepare myself further. Couldn't have said it better myself.

Mikey's dinner.
Sunday morning we woke up and he had this sudden craving for sweet indulgence. So we headed for Pancake House. Russion Blitz, I shall never look at pancakes the same way again. In the midst of enjoying our brunch, the phone went off singing an SMS notification. So I read, it said, "Hey Miza, how you going? Any chance you're in Adelaide? Doing anything this evening?" Mind you, I haven't seen Mike since last year after our gathering/clubbing night out before me leaving to Swiss and have certainly deleted his number from my cell (sorry mikey..) hence for the next few minutes I riddled with him who would've SMS with that note.

We gave the Botanics a visit and he made me promise to have brunch in the botanics one day and oh yes, a picnic there as well. We will, baby.. someday we will. After that long walk, we headed to Lemongrass for dinner with Mikey and the gang then back home to prepare our catering food.

Couns Session Block 2
I've certainly have a lighter case patient this time. Now hang on, I don't mean to say weight issue is light but my patient certainly is not in crisis/trauma/suicidal. Hence, the case is not as intense and research can be put to a minimal (since I've handled one before). Nevertheless, each case is not the same.

Noela once again blew my mind with her skills and knowledge. If I spend another 3 hours with her, I swore I would have no skeletons in my closet anymore. I will make sure to remember her for as long I live.

Noela Maletz is a counsellor in private practice. She sees mainly adult clients, often works with couples and occasionally works with adolescents and parents. Noela works with a client
centered approach using the 3 phase model and has completed training in
Psychosynthesis. Noela has been counselling for 17 years and has been
teaching in the couselling post graduate program at the university for 4
years.

Noela has been a registered secondary teacher for over 30 years
(teaching English, Painting, Creative Writing) and has worked in a broad
range of setting, teaching at secondary, adult and tertiary levels. She currrently teaches Critical Thinking and Communication in the School of Electrical Engineering at Adelaide University, at
undergraduate and post graduate levels.

She surely is a true inspiration as my supervisor. Not to forget Thomas (or shall I say Dr. Thomas now) last year when I was still struggling analytically and getting words out. One day when I become a psychiatrist/psychologist/counsellor (insyallah), I will count on these people to reflect on my days of learning. They are in my book in this journey to becoming "somebody".

Speaking of reflection, a good friend whom has successfully completed medical school very recently wrote about people and intelligence. We are in the bubble of belief that med students are the top most brilliant intelligent students in the world but in fact they are not. To his belief, that is. Those top achievers in medicine do well not because they have the intellingence of rocket scientists, but because they are hardworking and read a lot. Medicine does not require great intelligence in comparison to engineering, mathematicians and physicians.

I believe so too.

People
Once again recently I've come across people with lots of drama in their life. I find that a lot in Malays especially, and in general. I wonder if this is a creation to spice up their lives or a cover up to heighten their self-esteem (to feel superior). I wonder if people really reflect on themselves and look at what they have achieved instead of what they don't have. I wonder what they are actually thinking. Perhaps they just have too much time in their hands that they're not sure how to make full use of them. Well, personally, I've too much on my plate with my patients. Maybe next time.

I ran away from it all. And here I'm not going to go back to those people again.

Gardening/Baking/Cooking
This is my therapeutic stress-relief. Our 5kg bread flour has probably around 2 cups left and we're totally out of yeast. Last night as requested, was Scottish Butteries. I love it. He doesn't. She does. I don't know about the other.

There's one flower on my chilli plant. New foliage are growing on the tomato plant and basil looks great. Garden is fine.

Future Plans
Saving up for a trip.
Study better.
Spend more valuable time with him.
Call home.

2 more weeks before Block 2 is due, full-on 8-5pm practicals a week later, weekend pracs the following week, and research papers both due end of the month. Hell, June's not the time I'm looking forward to.

4 months and going..

Yep. 4 months.

Went to another one of his favourite places.

Melon Pan frustration

The bread is in the oven now actually. Somehow everything is going against me (baking-wise). Well let me say that the bread dough would have been my fault. The original recipe calls for 180 bread flour and 20 cake flour. Since I've no cake flour, I made it them all with bread flour. Recipe also calls for mixing the yolks together with the yeast mixture and let it rest til bubbly but somehow it just doesn't seem to want to bubble!! It's SO bloody annoying. I'm not sure where I went wrong but the dough just doesn't rise. No matter how long I proof it, it just stayed there. Idiot. Then making the cookie dough, I've mistakenly put in a whole egg instead of 30g of it. This one I really can't blame anyone but myself. Slowly the confidence is decreasing and almost to the giving-up mode. Sigh.

Bought a thyme plant today. Learnt my lesson. Buy the one that actually has grown a bit so I can access to it easily. Better get back to my melon pan.