When There's No More Magic

This is Michigan Magic Bus. Why they call it magic bus I don't know but I know if you type "magic bus" in Google search you will get to the magical website of the Michigan bus.

So magic isn't real? you can believe there's no magic because if it's magical why it ended up being towed?

Oh...

Why I love Michigan or Ann Arbor or UM or...

There are many reasons why I love Ann Arbor or University of Michigan...

The most lovable thing is the squirrel and the hamster. This hamster is my housemate who is very lazy and sleep 25 hours a day.


Second reason I love being here is because of free Bus Ride. There's magic bus aka M Bus and there's AATA aka AnnArborTransportAuthority which takes me anywhere to shop for groceries. AATA is very concerned about my groceries because I hear "PLEASE REPORT ANY UNATTENDED ARTICLES TO THE BUS DRIVER" everytime I'm on the bus.

Then the other reasons are equally equal lovable. Among the rest, the most lovable is I can get money by playing computer games, fill in the blank, or simply say what I see...in paid experiments/surveys. The university is very rich they grant many researches so that those researchers can give me money. Best ones were to play econ game get $65 and another econ game get $42.

Then I can hear the bell tower singing for 5 minutes on 12pm everyday.

And here people will bless you when you sneeze, no need to "excuse me". The more you sneeze the more blessings you get. Sneeze more!

And if you walk into class after 9:59 minutes after class started you still can walk in with pride and smile to lecturer because you are still 1 second ahead of Michigan time! You are early! not late :)

And I love Michigan football bacause it's the winningest (it's the official word) college football team but this season already lost 2 and only won 1...but that was yesterday's story because today Sep 27 we win Wisconsin Badgers and from now on I bet we'll keep on winning forever...

Oh and everybody loves organic chemistry!

There are more reasons but too many I forget 99% of them...

A day in AA

Date: July 19.

Wake up not very early in the morning. brush and wash and shower and eat.
Want to online but the stupid Wifi has no signal again...

[10:50am]I have to post a mail so I go to United States Postal Service office but to find out they have removed the stamp machine! The counter is closed and there's no stamp machine, a great service. Then I walk 15mins to Michigan Union to buy the stamp. But again, the stamp machine is removed!!! Coincident? Who steals the stamp machine? Now I have an envelope that can t be mailed.

[11:30am] Then go meet with MC because we are going to Jolin Tsai's grocery to buy some stuffs. Never been there before so just go see what it offers. Since Ann Arbor Art Fairs is blocking all the streets there's a detour of bus route. So we wait at a bus stop thinking it's the right bus stop but just to see the #16 bus turn other way right in front of us! Oh it's raining also...and then another bus come and it's raining so we just board the bus but I don't know why we board it but the rain seduces us to board the bus and then we tour from Ann Arbor to Ypsilanti and back to Ann Arbor...a long journey...
And I see White Castle! There's actually White Castle in Ann Arbor!


[1:12pm] back at Ann Arbor Transit Center and the next #16 bus is 1:48pm so we walk around AA Art Fairs and MC suddenly sees a USPS big post office hidden behind the art booths! Oh this big post office also has no stamp machine!! Haha but it has "Stamp ATM" Finally I can dispose my big envelope.

[1:35pm] Waiting for bus. [1:48pm] Board the bus yay!

[2:10pm] See Tsai but to find actually it got not many stuffs but at least it's the tidiest & cleanest asian market.
[3:00pm] Since Jolin Tsai actually got nothing much we go to Meijer which is just opposite.
[4:00pm] Shopping done

[4:30pm] Back to home! Still no Wifi...go sleep la

[6:00pm] Go to KsSw's house to cook dinner. MC says all guys friends cooking is weird. Oh is it?
[7:20pm] Dinner

[8:00pm] Weekend Movie Time! The Pianist 2 hours 30 mins + Saving Private Ryan 2 hours 49 mins both are really best movies.

Then the end of day!
The end of a day is the start of another day :)

Wah! Firefly in Ann Arbor

It's a bird....It's a plane....It's a Superman!!!

No No No It's a FIREFLY!!!

Ann Arbor has firefly! Yes, there are many of them...flickering in the night

Hehe no need to waste money to go Kuala Selangor next time...call me and I'll give you a discounted rate for an 1 hour trip. Terms & conditions: don't blame me if you can't see any because they hate you.

Don't believe me? Really, there's firefly in Ann Arbor, not superman!

I managed to get a photo of a firefly

Best Employee of the Year! ...and a top SECRET! please don't tell anyone

So today I officially received a Michigan hat (with real gold"M") as compliment of 2008 Best Employee of The Year in Dining Hall category!!

What a great day!

Ok that was a lie...

In fact today was the first day I started to work (or to be trained) in dining hall and that hat is to be given to every employee...

But anyway I'm on my way to win the prize because I've done so many tasks today without causing any troubles.

First, I walked around like a supervisor to check out whether everything was in order...
ie to learn the working of dining hall...

Then I replaced a juice container in the juice machine...

Then I was the "food runner" wh0 ran here and there and in and out just to get the foods to the counter...

After a while I became the server who gave people chicken breast...

And I was upgraded to dishroom afterward...

So how's the dishroom? Oh I finally found the place where foods stolen from Africa are stored (or disposed)! Woo...what a strategic place as nobody will ever think that Michigan has a secret mission: to steal food from Africa and dispose it to nowhere (or somewhere)...

You can see plates and bowls of fully uneaten foods to be thrown into a mysterious state of the art machine which turn those foods to nothing...I wonder if they have a mission call: "send the foods to Mars for humankind's future nevermind the people in Africa now"?

And I wonder if they are trying to experiment whether mars has gravity or not because I saw a big red apple being thrown into the machine...oh no! then the future human have to learn Newton's 4th Law!!!! (4th law says the energy and mass of apple in Mars is still retaining the energy and mass it has in Earth, so it is still an apple...)

Actually I'm the one threw it...but I couldn't save it because they are so many people watching and I can't risk the chance to change the future...if the future Newton (in Mars) can't have the apple drop to his head he won't discover the 4th law...and humankind will be doomed...
and don't forget the employee award!

So after 2.5 hours my job is done!

And with that, I'm a fully trained employee and looking forward next mission! (wonder if they have any more?)

Reflection . Future . Life

When a person reach a point of his life, it's inevitable to look back at the past...

looking back the my past 20 year, it's a long journey.

Well, some people have plans until the day they feel it's time for eternity sleep (some even decide where to sleep I think)...some people have no plans for life at all...but there's one thing for sure: plans can never be followed 100%; not even 99.99%

In my life, there's many unexpected journeys...I really did a lot beyond my imagination.

Born in a kampung surrounded by padi, now in University of Michigan pursuing my dreams (is it my dreams?), it is not planned...and much of the times I have no plans :)

My memories of the past is still vivid in my life...

story telling time!
at kindergarten, I'm just an extraordinary normal kid...learning and knowing friends...

And as little child, there's nothing to worried about; it's so carefree...and all those afternoons after school playing with siblings and friends around the residential area...and I never really pressing hard to study...and my parents never gave even tiny pressure on academics...and then to primary school.

And for no reasons I've been selected as school prefect and class monitor...And I know I'm not the "tough" disciplinarian so I've done my jobs pretty well with the Mr Good Guy image.

And then life continues...in secondary school. at first admitted to a newly built school but the study environment was terrible...and if I did not decide to switch to GBS...maybe I've ended up as a billionaire now, who knows :)

The most anticipated class was PE...all classes can be cancelled but PE! and I enjoyed playing football every second even though I'm damn cacat at it.

Maybe it's just DNA, I'm not the talkative guy, I'm not outgoing etc, and maybe people have perceived me as a nerd or an introvert person...whatever, I'm just being myself, I'm not a nerd, I don't really study, I love outdoor activities, I love to be friend with others, I am Unique...

And growing older, on top of being the elder brother of two sisters, I've learned responsibilities. Though my 1st sister & I always quarrel and I always kacau my 2nd sister and never shown as a caring brother, I do care about them; and I must say I'm a home guy who just enjoy go back to home for unexplainable reasons. Home is warm...

I've gained invaluable experiences after elected as the St John Ambulance President in school; that's one of the toughest responsibilities. Imagine you are the leader for an active uniform body not only in school but involved in community. Through interaction with all the officers I've learnt; through all those competitions I'm proud; through leading I'm braver. And there's no other greatest moments after emerged as national first-aid competition champion team and received the Grand Prior highest honor for cadet...

and I was at the turning point of life: after SPM.

Form 6 was my only option after rejected both Matrikulasi and JPA before JPA accepted the appeal.

INTEC was another milestone in my life. With no intention to involve in any clubs , it ended up I being the VP for IE Club. Besides, the 1.5 years was a spiritual journey for me when I finally rediscovered Buddhism.

The path from INTEC to Michigan was a real crazy experience...but I'm happy with my decision to come here and I'm on my way to become the weird plant biologist...

20 years, it's just like yesterday, but yet it is so far away; there's sweet memories, but also evil deeds that I wish I could have not done...but we can never go back, and I bet you won't go back even there's time machine, there's no way we can alter the past to be better...there's no perfect life, we just need to acknowledge the past and keep moving.

People always say life is short; not really. When you live to the fullest, you live to be happy and contentious, life is just nice; learn to enjoy.

drink a cup of coffee, listen to music, admiring the views from windows; or go for a trip, take a break, life is enjoyable...

that's just my view of life. Life is to enjoy, live my way of life...and be happy

So relax huh? How to achieve in life?...no need to work? Don't worry, we can achieve because we believe we can.

Michigan squirrel

Aren't squirrels cute? I just don't know why they are cuter than you...but that's the reality...

squirrels are running everywhere in Ann Arbor, and it's such happy moments when I see them and try to approach them but when they act stupid and ignore me then I chase after them...




And squirrels remind me of one special animal: cat!

is

Why? Because squirrels are so ubiquitous here...just like cats in Malaysia...

And let me introduce Nutty!

The candy-loving tree friend in Happy Tree Friends! And they are extremely cute...before it turns out to be bloodyful-not-cute...

So that's squirrels...

I have green fingers

Today I received a certificate from Mayor for making his city flowerful.


Oh it was the first community work I've involved since I came here and usually I'm not keen on doing community works but flower + green = my favorites so I signed up at the second I received an email about the event!

And I never knew my friends were joining until the day before the event. Great:)

The tasks were easy...

First we got a green T-shirt and dispatched to designated location.
I love green!

Second we listened the instructions from the gardener...and introduced to petunia and another flower which it's not aunt Petunia's favorite flower so I forget its name...

So this is petunia


Third we dig holes and put in the plants...not blossomed like the photo shown above...but soon ;)

Finally we want to make the flowers happy by giving them cocoa aka chocolate...they love chocolate as much as we do! It was aromatic chocolaty smells in the flower beds when we poured in cocoa shell mulch.
and all done!

Hmmm...then we walked back to the gathering point and had drinks and pizzas...Instead of using
the city council used this
to put the iced drinks...wah...

So next time if you passed by here....

And happily ever after!

Late for class...

For the first time in my life, I overslept and was late for the first class meeting of the new semester!

For some of you it's quite a norm but it was the FIRST time in my life I never wake up in time to get to class!

Alarm rang @8.30am but then just dozed off...and when I' was enjoying my dream suddenly my roommate called me up @ 10:04am and OH NO! My class starts @10am!

(*actually my roommate knew I'm having class @10 and he also has class @ 10 but only woke me up when he's ready to go...and the reason he woke me up only @10:04 = he thought I'm already out but obviously I was still at my bed, and he definitely couldn't have not seen me in bed because he must have seen me because he must pass by my room to go in & out to his room...confused? )


Then although it was late, I still arranged my bedsheet before rushing to bathroom to get my face washed and messy hair combed. I must keep my room tidy all the time, regardless rain or sunny, snow or sandstorm, day or night, left or right.

And with empty stomach I ran to Dennison Building which is 10 minutes away. And since I never went to the lecture room before, more time was wasted searching for the room...

And finally @ 10:21, I slowly turned the door knob and get into the lecture room as quiet as possible but to discover my professor was in front the lecture room and glanced at me...for a short while....ok...then I just grabbed a seat and sit down and pretended as though I was there since 10am...

But late only mah...in It's not really a big deal...there are a few more people later than me and just came in like it's their home...

But that's just not me...so this post is the first warning letter to myself! No more late for class. (although I skipped all the ungraded discussion sessions for CHEM210 last semester because it's @ the very early 8am...)

[Update] so far never late :)

Durian . Dance . Dandiya . Dan lain-lain

It was a great Southeast Asia Night In UMichigan last Saturday! A great showcase for Southeast Asia countries!

Indonesia Malaysia Singapore Thailand Vietnam + Cambodia. Foods, band performances, cultural performances, sketch!

As part of proud Malaysia community in Michigan, I performed in an Indian dance! I just don't know why...I'm never been a good dancer but then I've danced in a few occasions, at least I never spoils the dances :)

So the Malaysian performance was about a Indian & Malay couple in long long time ago...their relation is disapproved by parents and reborn into modern Malaysia and continue their love story...with Dandiya(Indian dance), Ulek Mayang and Chinese Fan Dance to embellish the story.
Here's the video!

Southeast Asia=foods.
So we have our nasi lemak! And what we can have for RM1 in Malaysia = USD3
It definitely looks good and tastes great, but sambal can be more spicy...maybe it have been modified to suit non-Malaysians?

And nasi lemak always come with durian! (is it?)

Don't expect to get cheap durian here...1 = USD 10!
Other than durian and nasi lemak, there were chicken rice, rojak, beef rendang, Goi Cuon (Vietnamese spring roll) etc. And not to forget "Chi Kut Teh" from Malaysia! Huh? It's the chicken version of bak kut teh!

It was a real Southeast Asia night!

Life in A^2, US of A

First, define A^2: pronounced A squared, full name: Ann Arbor; a university town.

After almost 2 months here, there are many things for me to share!

First> The vehicle's plate.
I was puzzled when I first realized that plate is only needed at the back of the car!
So, it can be anything in front











And I don't know why variety of plate # can be chosen....just look at the plate below..










"UM FAN 1" and then M Go Blue sign down left...
An obvious Michigan fan! FYI, Michigan is the winningest college football team...the term winningest sounds weird...

Second> the buses here are very punctual! Or at least won't let you wasted an hour waiting for bus like in Malaysia.
There are 2 bus services.
1. AATA The Ride. A public bus service; free for UM students.
2. Magic bus! UM's bus. It's magical! Why? Oh, you can be in your room a minute before, then another minute in the bus! How? we can see the bus moving in google map...then when the bus is near, grab your bag and go!




Third> I love shopping! Yes shopping!
Here has no WalMart, but has Kroger and Meijer.
Meijer is the biggest here and all the goods are at reasonably cheap prices. And I love the self-scanning paying method since it's free of tax in Kroger and lesser tax in Meijer.

Forth> You can earn some pocket money by participating in paid survey. So far I've received $33 from 3 different surveys. I did it sincerely one ah....not just simply get money. So, I've helped thoundsands of people who will be benefited from those surveys! I even donated some money during one survey! See, I do help people while helping myself!
Besides surveys, there are many freebies we can get in US. There are many companies giving out free samples; just give them your address and they send you their samples! Now I'm expecting a lot of them coming to me in coming weeks!

Now is spring break!!!!

A special Chinese New Year!

What does Chinese New Year mean to you? Family? Food? Angpao? Firecrackers? Or All RED?

This year: My CNY:
In a far far away place from home
Without all those delicious foods
All white...(Christmas?!)
No angpao
Just friends.

Sound pathetic? No, I don't meant so!
Actually it's quite special.

Had good times enjoying new year eve with friends in Chinese restaurant. Woo so red...











Then Slyvia had a home party...











I prepared special secret recipe chicken! 2 pans in one time! Great chef. Cooking was so fun!
And the chicken was delicious. Yes, at least I think it is.











Next, we have UMIMSA gathering. I was helping in preparing wanton with chicken filling...











Then the night was all about chicken: lemon chicken, chicken wanton, chicken bak kut teh, rendang chicken etc...





















Why I'm so green?? No red shirt liao lo...

And finally it's my freezing cold birthday...
thanks all for wishing me a happy birthday...and thank YungLeong KaiShuen SengWui for the burritos.

And today is really cold...










It feels like almost -30C!
But it was very syok walking in the cold...

And the end.

Snow and spaghetti!

So how's life in United States? It's a spaghetti life!

It's too cold outside and you won't feel like to just having supper outside...here supper = malaysia dinner. So spaghetti is the best dinner in room, other than ramen...here ramen = malaysia instant noodle.

Nissin Ramen 0.2 USD/Pack, cheap lo...spaghetti 1 normal pack only USD1, pasta sauce only USD2/big bottle. Very saving la. But wah...like that everyday die lo...so have to eat apple! pack of 10 USD 2.99, ok la. Then having some milk in the morning, 1.89L only USD2.09. Then cereal USD3.99. Oh ya...I don't know why we manage to get ham at USD1 per pound! Wah great deal!.

Those were my meals in US. Never been to any restaurant even after almost a week. Why? first 2 days stayed in Red Roof Inn, dinner prepared by seniors, USD5/ pack. Then morning having great breakfast. Lunch either too busy to eat or no mood to eat...luggage trouble...very very troubling...have to buy clothes or else die lo...one Lee jeans USD24.99,
levi Strauss USD19.99. Tshirts 3.99 and 6 and 6. And socks and towel and underwears:) Luckily I brought a thin blanket from Malaysia Airlines :)
Then I had McDonald...first meal in US! I had BK, and just had turkey ham sandwich this afternoon during orientation.

Wah, it's really cold outside...luckily jackets are with me...
sunny snowy day...but then it turned gloomy soon...it is nice when there's sunshine...

Just registered classes...tomorrow having first class!

Wah I'm going to Michigan!

I'm leaving Malaysia to Michigan this Friday > University of Ann Arbor Michigan.

At first, UM is not my choice since it doesn't offer Biotech. But then, how I ended up there? Oh, it's a long long long story.

1. I'm eligible to apply, according to our sponsor.

2. Since the sponsor pays our application fee, so I try my luck.

3. Then I done all I suppose to do and handed my dossier to the student office.

4. I was waiting for results...err, not eagerly.

5. Wah, many of my friends admitted. My two roommates also got the offer.

6. Eh? Why I never get one?

7. I contacted UM and they tell me I didn't send my transcripts! Ahhh! The student office didn't include transcripts in my application package.

8. That time was before final exam week...

9. Then, finally the transcripts sent! Concentrated on exams.

10. Transcripts arrived Michigan 3 days later.

11. Phoned them, and told that normally all letters take 2 weeks to be processed...Then wait lo

12. Now I'm eagerly waiting for the results...hope can get into UM!

13. After 2 weeks...

14. I was told that they didn't have my SPM certificate! Wahhhhh! Student office didn't include it also...I should have make sure all the required materials are in the package before they send...now too late...

15. I was in a state that I have no sufficient vocab to describe...after so long wait...now got problem again...

16. I asked the office to fax the cert (since the cert was in the student office) to UM.

17. They received and reviewing my credentials. I was very very nervous waiting for verdict.

18. For all those admitted have to attend a compulsory 5 days camp. By that time, there are 4 out of 40 applicants haven't admitted. We (4 of us) were told to attend the camp just in case we get the offer. But I nearly missed it because I misread a email that ask me to attend...nearly missed it...

19. Luckily a friend save my future when we chatted online! That was 2 days before the camp!

20. The camp was completed!

21. As soon as the camp finished, our mobile phones were returned to us (no phone throughout the camp).

22. ASAP I checked my status using GPRS.

23. WAH! Admitted!!!!

24. It was Nov 24.

25. But then not happily ever after yet...

26. After long long wait...I was wondering why my I20 not yet processed?!

27. Contacted them and they told me they don't have my financial statement, so can't issue my I20!

28. Ha? No financial statement? It should be included in my application package also...but then it was not included. I can't put all the blame on the student office; I should have make sure it was inside before they send...
haiz...

29. Phoned the student office and the problem solved. Now waiting for I20 which is needed to apply for my student visa. Then was Dec 12...wah..really late

30. finally, I20 arrived on Dec 17.

31. Then interview scheduled on Dec 19.

32. Yeah Visa done on Dec 21.

33. Finally I'm ready to fly!!!!

Wah, actually the story is very very very long...so not all details are included. But most importantly with the help from friends and the student office I finally can go Blue! Thanks!

By the way, no Biotech, so how?

So I choose Plant Biology...after all, I love plant.