Balik kampung...ooo...balik kampung

I'm so looking forward to tomorrow! Will be leaving for Malaysia for the Eid/Raya celebration with my family.....

These last 2 weeks have been mind exhausting. Presented my very preliminary work at school last week, got some feedbacks, went home with a throbbing headache.... then sent another preliminary work (literature review and methods) to my supervisor this week. My supervisor has been very supportive so far. He told me I should have emailed him if I had any concerns or worries, which I think I should have. But I wanted to try to calm down and clear my head on my own, otherwise only God knows how I would have expressed myself in the email in a distressed mode. Alhamdulillah, asking help and strength from God tremendously works. I'm just a small person trying to locate herself in this "advanced" world, it is scary and confusing sometimes.

Please pray that I'll have a safe journey back to Malaysia and on my return to Brisbane. May this Eid be a wonderful one for everyone. Malaysia is notorious for having high numbers of accidents during festive seasons, so drive carefully everyone in Malaysia!

Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin...

Me brain...

I'm stuck! Been looking at this laptop for hours and yet I've only managed to type half a page of literature review. Going back and forth reading articles and staring at my blank word page. All that while trying to self-learn endnote! Arghhh...

Maybe the haze in Malaysia has clouded my brain :(

Some fun quizzes to try out... ahem, more suitable for girls ya :)

I found these quizzes on the internet. Somehow my mood and feelings are more feminine, serene and light today. Must be the post effect of my encounter with the magpie yesterday, ehehehe...

You Are A Lily

You are a nurturer and all around natural therapist. People see you as their rock. And they are able to depend on you. You are a soothing influence. You can make people feel better with a few words. Your caring has more of an impact than even you realize.

What Flower Are You?

You Are a White Rose

You represent youthfulness and purity. Your vibe: Sweet and heavenly Falling in love with you: is like falling in love for the first time

What Color Rose Are You?

Your Scent is Rose

Delicate, feminine, and soft Your personality is fresh and understated

What Scent Are You?

Magpie madness

It's been two weeks into ramadhan and I'm getting by. Found some "mind disturbing" and deliciously looking photos of char kuey teow, ABC, jelly, laksa, kuih muih etc.. on the internet when I went searching for recipes to cook for buka puasa. Oh how I miss Malaysian food! Alhamdulillah, I still have food on my table and shouldn't be complaining either. I know some people don't have food for days and any food would do just to help them survive another day. May Allah help them.

I was attacked by a magpie yesterday! It was quite funny too because the other day one of my housemates was telling us that she was attacked on the head by a bird and my other housemate and I joked that maybe the bird was a he, and liked her. Then yesterday, we got our fair share of attacks! I was walking to the bus stop when suddenly I saw a magpie, black and white in color, chirping loudly on a branch of tree. Lo and behold! Not long before that, it came swooping from my back and attacked me on the head. It hurt!!!!! I looked at it and continued walking. Just when I thought that I was safe, it came swooping and attacked my head again! I had to remind myself that I was fasting to stop myself from saying @#$%^& bird, I am not disturbing you!

It turns out that it is common for magpies to attack people as an act of defending their territories. I guess it's nesting time since it is spring and they are just guarding their young ones. You can read about the magpies here and here. They can get pretty vicious too as what happened to this poor man. Nevertheless, they are protected animals, so just being cautious and walking away is the best thing to do.

But mind you it hurts!

Ahlan ya Ramadhan

Alhamdulillah, I am grateful that Allah has blessed me with another chance of meeting Ramadhan this year.

Muslims in Brisbane will start fasting on Monday, but people back in Malaysia has started their fast today. The moon was not sighted last night, so the muslim board has decided that fasting will start on Monday. Read the article about a united Ramadhan here. Although it would be desirable if everyone in the world could fast at the same time, for me, I'll follow what has been determined by the governing Muslim body in the country I am currently residing. Since Muslims are living in different parts of the world, I think adherence to the regulations set by the local Muslim authority is important for unity. There's nothing more harmful than a divided Muslim ummah.

Yesterday, my friend Zulfa and I went to an open market called the Davis market in West End. Love the place!!! It's like pasar tani in Malaysia with cheap fruits and vegetables compared to those sold in supermarkets. I also bought shrimps and squids. I was also so tempted to buy a red snapper (jenahak) there, but the fish was too big. Besides, it'll be only me eating the fish. Anyway, I cooked sambal tumis sotong last night for dinner, yummy! It's funny because the other day I was talking to my husband and he said he was in kampung (my parents-in-law house) and he bought some squids/sotong. My sis-is-law Along was actually cooking sambal tumis sotong as I was talking to my husband. I told him how I missed that dish because I couldn't find a 'decent' looking sotong (the ones I found in the Valley were not fresh and already purplish black in color). And hey, alhamdulillah, I found sotong yesterday. So, I was enjoying a made in Taringa sambal tumis sotong yesterday night. Balas dendam nih, ehehehe!

I am alone in the house currently since my two housemates are in Cairns for the mid semester break. Lucky them eh? But I am saving money since I'm going back for Raya/Eid this year. I have bought some souvenirs at the Valley to bring home. Can't wait to go home... and I can't say those words without a voice in my head reminding me to work harder too either. However, I sometimes think I've been working too hard too for the past four years. My job, though flexible as it was, was also continously draining my energy. Up to the last week when I was in Malaysia before coming to Brisbane, I had been so busy. Now, I find myself gaining up speed so very slowly in my work progress. I am not sure if I am just tired because my previous work cycle had just abruptly stopped and changed, or am I still adjusting to the new environment in Brisbane?

So, another Ramadhan in another country. Have I become a better Muslim, the same as before or worse???!!! Humans are forgetful creatures who need reminders from time to time (I am one for sure!).

On today's date last year, I met my husband for the first time. We had been corresponding through SMSes, thanks to the introduction by my cousin's wife who was also a teacher in his school. We wanted to meet at the famous Kueteow Doli in Taiping but it was closed that day. So we decided to meet at KFC instead, ehehehe... I was so nervous. I remember that I didn't reply to his SMS asking me what my car's color and plate numbers were because I wanted to be the one who arrived first. I can get extremely nervous if I know someone is watching me. That's why I still have stage fright even though I've been teaching for four years. Anyway, alhamdulillah things went well after the first meeting and we got married in February this year.

So this Ramadhan means a whole lot more to me. I have become someone's wife and have become a student again, which means I have much bigger responsibilities. I pray that Allah will make things easy for me and my family, accept our deeds and du'a, and also make us better Muslims. I find the surah Alam Nashrah to be so reviving and refreshing when faced with difficulties....Indeed with difficulty, there is ease.

The whatever lah entry

Ok people, I know I have not been updating my blog for a week. That's because so much has happened since my last entry. Been busy with school, getting things organized, etc...

Did you all know (heck, you guys probably did) that Steve Irwin the Crocodile Hunter died? He died after an attack by a stingray (he was pierced in the chest by the stingray's barb) while filming an underwater segment for his daughter Bindi's television show. In case you have no idea who he is or would like to know more about him, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Irwin. Never thought that this is his ending since we were so used to watching him "fighting" and "wrestling" with alligators, snakes and more fierce creatures. In fact, when I first heard about the news, I was thinking that it was probably a joke because I've heard of a hoax about his death a few years ago. This time it was real. I'm just thinking how his poor wife and kids are gonna go on with their life. I bet they will do ok but it will take time...

Heard of a good news too. It seems that KPT or the Ministry of Higher Education has decided that the monthly allowances for students in Australia and New Zealand will be raised. Apparently, they have accepted the fact that we (i.e. students here) are living under the poverty line that many had to struggle by working, which means most of the time sacrificing their time to study. Now, we wait and see (errr.. our bank accounts...)

So, the much awaited SIPKOM is finally over today. I got a message from Faza stating that they were already on the bus on the way back to good old Sintok (or Changlun, or Jitra, or Alor Star). Will talk to her more later for details. I know you guys deserve a long restful weekend...

And yes another good news... I'm coming home for Raya!

SIPKOM

Wishing and hoping...

Just decided to change the template of my blog. What say ya?

Weekends are here again

So today is Sunday, a beautiful Sunday indeed. The weather was nice this morning, not too cold and not too hot, just nice... (sounds like the porridge in the Goldilocks and the Three Bears story). Slept late last night because I was reading that one piece of journal article. I got stuck while trying to understand one single paragraph. The choices of words that people came up with... can't they use simple English instead??? I wonder if you have to present your research using difficult, sophisticated language in order to get it published in a journal. Isn't the purpose of publishing to spread knowledge? How do you expect knowledge to get disseminated if people can't understand what you are writing? Writing style is an issue here...

However, I manage to understand the whole research (I think) by this afternoon and I found the research to be quite interesting. A lot of variables that the author studied could be considered for my research.

"Talked" to my friends Faza, Enny and Ina through YM today. I am still used to working on Sundays. Yes, it's working day over there in Kedah. And I keep forgetting that Friday is still a working day here. We (the Social Work department in UUM) will be conducting a symposium on marginal community (Sipkom in short) on Sep 12-14. Seems like time is running, less than 10 days to go. My friends/colleagues have been working extremely hard to ensure the smooth running of the symposium. You go girls! (errr... and guys also, though there are not many of them in the department, ehehehe...). I also got to know that Ina finally got her Myvi after an almost devastating experience. Alhamdulillah... Weih, aku pun teringin nak naik kereta hang Ina!

Yesterday, I went to Chinatown in Fortitude Valley with Khairie, Azelin and their two sons. They parked their car at the Toowong shopping centre and off we went to take the train to the Valley. They took me to a shop that sells almost everything you want at really cheap prices. People say the stuff that are being sold at that shop are like "pasar malam" goods. One thing for sure, I was a satisfied customer, ehehehe.... I saw a couple of those shops (perhaps there are more). I bought some household items including a plastic multilevel tray/trolley for my room. It is really useful since I can put away a lot of my stuff that were scattered on the floor before. Now my room looks much tidier, ahem... Then, we went to buy grocery from Yuen's, which I was told owned by a Malaysian chinese. Lot's of food items from Malaysia and other ASEAN countries. You can also buy fresh seafood there. Then we went back to Toowong, and went to K-Mart in the complex. Still, couldn't find that "precious" fluorescent light...

Selamat Hari Merdeka yang ke 49

Today is Malaysia's Independence Day. We have come a long way to get to where we are today. I remember when I was in Austin some years back when I was an undergraduate student. I was waiting for the bus in front of the co-op on Guadalupe (a.k.a. the Drag) and I could hear the university's clock tower chiming Negaraku. I felt proud, happy, sad, homesick, all at the same time..... Some people question the meaning of independence. What does Merdeka celebration mean? Does it have any meaning nowadays especially for the youngsters? What do independence mean to you?

I finally got my student ID two days ago, thus able to get the concession fare for riding the bus/train. So today I went to the train station and got a monthly pass, which saves you a few dollars if you ride the bus or the train or even the ferry regularly. Went to Indooroopilly to find fluorescent light for my room, which is currently quite dim. I find it hard to read if the light is not bright enough. Unfortunately, I didn't find one. Well, actually I did. I saw some at K-Mart but the problem is, they sell the actual bulb. How am I gonna fix it in my room? Where do people go to buy these lights?????

It's Monday again...

I can't believe that it's been a week since I arrived in Brisbane. Time flies... (when you are having fun?) Am I having fun? I don' t know... I like it so far living in Brisbane but I've only been here for a week and I do miss my hubby and my family very much :( ... Will discuss with my supervisor if I'll be able to go home at the end of the year. That very much depends on my work progress.

It rained this afternoon. A light shower though, not as heavy like in Malaysia. I went to the school today and did some 'work'. Yeah, I know that I'm not working as hard as I should and this worries me. Talked to my friends in Malaysia and they said that this is normal. They said that our motivation and concentration can go up or down. I need to keep reminding myself of my purpose of coming to UQ. Sometimes I feel a bit down, like I don't belong. At other times, I feel like I want to achieve the best. I'm worried about writing my proposal and making sure that my research is very sound.

Collected my ATM card at the bank. Got lost on my way to the bank from the bus stop ehehehe. I saw two girls dressed up like Malaysians, so I went over to ask them. They told me their from Brunei, takpelah kira jiran la tu ... Unfortunately, they were also new here and so weren't sure where the bank was. Anyway, I went on walking and at last I saw it. Phew... I thought it wasn't that far when Khairie brought me to open up an account last week. Ok, ok it wasn't far but you know, I guess I've been too used to driving and not walking too much when I was working.

Have lots of journal articles to read and write reviews on....

My first few days in Brisbane

On Tuesday (Aug 22), I went to see my Research Coordinator. Since I was staying at Shikin's, which was on the other side of the river, I had to take the ferry across to get me to UQ. Hehehe, fancy taking a ferry to get to campus! Shikin was kind enough to 'escort' me on my first journey as a student trying to get to campus using the ferry :P.

My first day as a student went very well indeed. I received a warm welcome from my Research Coordinator. She showed me around the school and my desk at the Postgraduate Students office. Met with some nice people that day. Still had to wait a couple of days till I'm officially enrolled.

That evening I moved in to a house in Taringa. I'll be sharing a 3-room house with two lovely girls from Oman. Looks like this is going to be my home for the next few months (or more).

The next day (Aug 23) I met with my supervisor for the first time. I was very nervous. That morning was the first time I took the bus, but one of my housemates was with me. When I was in the states, bus rides were free, you just had to show your student ID. But here you only get concession, a 50% discount. Anyway, that's better than no discounts at all. Since I don't have an ID yet, I had to pay full price.

We missed the first bus because it was full. So, I was a few minutes late to see my supervisor. What a way to meet your supervisor for the first time.... :( . He was ok with me though and bought coffee for me while we chatted about study plans and expectations. After that, I attended a class about examiners'/readers' expectations. Later that afternoon, I attended a Work in Progress session. In WIP's , students make presentations of their proposals or work progress.

Hmm, will I get there...?

hello from brisbane...

I just arrived in Brisbane on Monday Aug 21, 2006. Am originally from Malaysia, working in Universiti Utara Malaysia in Sintok, Kedah. I've lived in the US a couple of times before as a student but this is my first time in Australia. I will be attending the University of Queensland (or UQ). Didn't thought that I'll get this far but alhamdulillah, God has been great and kind.

Had an "exciting" experience at the airport. Reached the Brisbane International Airport at 8.40 am. Going through immigration process went well (I was told to read the custom declaration form to see if I understood what I read and ticked, for security purposes I guess) . Then, we (me and the other passengers) were waiting for our luggages after that. We waited for nearly an hour when the conveyor belt stopped moving. A staff came by and announced that they were trying to find out where our bags were. Huh? Are they kidding? More waiting after that. Finally, they announced that we needed to fill out some sort of a luggage search form and they promised that they will send our bags to our homes/hotels/etc... after they found out what happened to our bags.

Anyway, I was met by Khairie, his wife Azelin (fancy meeting another person with the same name as yours :) ) and one of their cute sons. They brought me to Shikin's house, where I'd be staying temporarily. I was told that there are 2 other azlins in Brisbane. Wow, now it's getting confusing... They decided that they should call me ima (from my middle name). Ima pun ima la... Anyway, these kindhearted people have been helping me a lot since I arrived. Thanks a bunch guys! That afternoon, I got a call from Qantas saying that they'd be sending my bag to Khairie's house. Yeay...alhamdulillah.

Hello world...

An attempt at creating my own blog... Please bare with me as this is my first attempt :)