Chicago!

Spring break was coming and is going....

And my very first travel destination in US > Chicago!

An exciting trip!

Going by Greyhound Bus...Malaysian buses much more better...even a very kampung Jebat Ekspres better than this narrow seated Greyhound.

After 6 hours and many stops...finally Chicago!

First...saw SEARS Tower! Then Union Station, went inside bought a 3 day Chicago Transport Authority (CTA) pass for $12. And saw 1 wanderer sleeping in the station...

Then we keep on walking to Caffe Baci










Then done with meal...to Millenium Park, where there's the biggest bean










Oh yeah...forget to mention we're walking in Chicago with our luggages!

After eaten the bean, we went to Oglivie Station to take a double decker Metra train to Malaysian Student Department officer's house to eat nasi lemak but no roti canai...wah, also got pulut hitam and ice cream as dessert.

Then go to another MSD officer's house to stay.

Next morning! A new day! After having breakfast at MSD office...Shedd Aquarium! Cute penguins. Then Field Museum! Mummies and dinasours!










Darwin's words are colorful!










Then it was snow storm. And we're lost in the Chicago streets before we had our dinner at Giordano's: deep dish pizzas...penuh until terbalik!

Then take train back to Evanston (The place we stay). called taxi and called again and again the taxi never appear...so had to call MSD officer at 12am to fetch us...paiseh.

Third day! Breakfast with french Vanilla Nescafe and Nasi goreng+ayam kicap. Then went to train station and wait for another group of friends...waited and waited and they not yet appear; and after almost 1 hour they came...when travelling in a big group, this is extraordinary normal.














We went to Museum of Science and Industry and saw the submarine stolen from Germany!!
U505










Then Chinatown! Not that Chinese actually...went to Penang Restaurant to have a salty Hookien Mee, a extremely salty wanton noodle, with really cacat's wantons...I miss authentic Malaysian foods! Oh yeah...the new F word discovered in the trip is Food! WTF = what the food!

After Penang was Hancock! Great night view of Chicago!










After Hancock was sleep...

Oh wait...before that was cheese cake! @Cheesecake Factory














It was Kahlua-ly coffee taste! Nice!

Then sleep.

Last day! Adler Planetarium. Really sunny day! Even the frozen lake melted!










Then all done! We've visited 5 major attractions in Chicago. 1Shedd Aquarium2Field Museum3Museumof Scienceand Industry4Hancock Observatory5Adler Planetarium!

And the excitement just began! Our 3 day pass= 72 hours pass. We managed to got in our second last bus ride just 1 minute before expiration! And our last ride was thrilling!

The pass couldn't be used...so we kelam kabut searching for small note and coins...then while half of us in bus...the other 3 were left at the bus stop...the driver just drove away before they got into the bus! Luckily they got the next bus which just minute after. After all safe...we walked/run/rushed to Greyhound station

When we got into the express bus, suddenly the driver ask us to tag our luggages! Oh! we have to put a digital tag on our luggages! Cacat Greyhound...while going to Chicago from Ann Arbor we only required hand written tag...here different way pula...so we were like mad people running in the bus station to get the tagging done...

But at least there's one good thing about the bus service...it's like taking a flight...the driver will make announcement through speakers...and the biggest anouncement was "The bus has air pressure (hydraulic) problem...and we'll continue our journey to Detroit ...hopefully it won't happen after Ann Arbor..."

And we finall arived safe and sound to Ann Arbor!

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.

So far so full until terbalik

Too long never update so this is a simple post that clearly shows that I love to eat and can eat a lot.

Proof:
Broken fork!

Eat too much until it breaks!

And hopefully by the end of the year I can grow 10cm taller? Impossible?

My Luggage is Back!!

After almost one week, my luggage is finally arrived safe and sound. Wah...

Now I've got all my clothes back! And plus I can enjoy my 3 in 1 Drinks!

I have Boh Tea, Boh 3in1, Milo, Nescafe, Coffee Tea, etc etc and a few bags of Lipton taken from inn. All around 80 packets...wah.

Happily ever after!!!

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!

Where's is my baggage?

Is it exciting when travel overseas by plane, the first time? Yes, but not after you discover your baggage is missing at your destination. Ah....my baggage is not arriving with me in Detroit Airport and I got no clothes to wear in this cold winter...wah, this sounds exciting. My baggage went travel by itself without my consent, what a naughty bag!

Now I'm waiting for its arrival...at the moment, I have 1 long john, 1 sweater, 1 socks, 1 gloves, and luckily 2 jackets to withstand the cold weather.

Wah, then have to wear only those for the next 3 years in University of Michigan? Impossible la...so have to go shopping tomorrow...

What to do now? just hope for the best! it will be back soon :)

My advise: Don't pack anything when go overseas so you won't lost your belongings; or best, don't go overseas by plane, bus is more comfortable than plane.

Oh, my 3 in 1 coffee also gone...

The evolution of spectacles

See the photo above? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7...my spectacles!

They can be categorized into 3 groups.

First are the two on the left.
From England Optical Groups.
Standard 3 to Standard 6.
Very round and big. Don't know la, that was that time's fashion.
First one is Doraemon specs...like Doraemon, big and fat and round :)
Second is a specs also...of course! Nothing special, but very big also; I forget how I look in those specs...

Second group is the middle three.
All from kong Wah Optical.
Form 1 till form 5
The 3rd and 4rd are the same design...because i broke the 3rd frame during basketball game just about 1 month purchasing it...so just changed the frame.
The 5rd one also nothing special...
All these three are quite slim :)

All the previous are made from metal frame...so some paint are easily torn...

Then the 3rd group.
Both from Focus Point.
The most expensive specs ever.
6th costs around rm500 and the current rm550. The thinnest lens are expensive...
My eye too powerful...so the lens must be powerful.
Both are plastic covered on the sides...why last time no plastic one? I also don't know.

In conclusion, everything changes.

Why I keep all my specs? I also don't know...

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.

Oh o tire puncture

Ha ha. My motorcycle's front tire puncture again...again? This was not the first time lo, the 5th time in 2 years. Very lucky :)