I haven't written in a long time. I didn't think anyone else would read the blog, but according to the little statistics thing for this blog, there are the occasional visits. Mostly the visits are for the Khidmat Negara entries, so I'll try to make this entry for those visitors.

The blog entries are arranged inconveniently - latest on top, and earliest at the bottom. For someone coming to the website and reading up on the National Service experience that I had (and if things are still the same: reading up on what to expect), it's inconvenient. This website will stay, of course - but I'll add a prominent link to my other website, where I'll host an easier-to-read version.

It's been a while since I was a 17 year old in National Service. I am now a 20 year old girl/woman who will be turning 21 this March. Of the 9 girls I shared a tent with, I've only heard from 4 of them since the end of NS. Within the last year, only one, who is currently studying to be a doctor in an Indonesian university. As for the rest, I don't know. I hope they're doing well.

And where am I in my education? No bachelor's degree yet. Hopefully, a pharmacist within the next, oh, 50 years. Sure, sure, in Malaysia a pharmacist may be just "whatever" next to doctors and dentists, but pharmacists and optometrists are actually pretty prestigious here in the US. Almost the same program as medicine/dentistry.

The last thing I do for this blog, I think, will be to arrange the entries conveniently. Sometime soon. The entries are surely out-of-date and the program has surely changed, but maybe some might find it interesting.

Ah, the wild world of silat. (Google video) I was more of a karate-do shotokan girl, though.

I'm still alive. It's spring break now, and I just got over a horrible winter quarter. I took 30 units (a full load is between 12-18 units). It's possible, but it's just insane.

Things I've learned... they don't really apply to everyone, but they certainly apply to me! As follows:

1) If you passed a class the first time around (even if it's a C), don't bother retaking it. You'll rely on your previous knowledge instead of studying for it. Which won't improve your grade.
2) There's a reason why they put a cap on the number of units you're normally allowed to take. Overloading is insanity, unless you're a music major or taking easy classes. Overloading with Biology, Chemistry, Calculus, C++ Programming, Macroeconomics, Religion, and Music Appreciation is included in "insanity". Never again!

I've been in the dorms for half a week now, for Christmas break. It's actually not that bad. The cafeteria opens once a day for about an hour, and has two-day-old sandwiches and overpriced drinks. No hope for breakfast or dinner - so I've been having brunch instead of breakfast/lunch. Dinner is skipped - and if I'm hungry during dinnertime, I steal from the kitchens. There's all kinds of packaged and microwaveable food in the dorm's community fridge. I feel like a common thief but what can you do when you're hungry and have no car.

'Tis the season to be jolly - but I'm not. You know what, I don't even send out Christmas cards anymore. Used to be I'd blow a lot of money on stamps and cards.

I guess I don't care anymore. But I wish I did.

My computer has been dying. I need a new battery. It's finals week, I have a paper due on Tuesday. The big one would be C++ Programming I on Tuesday. Biology on Thursday should be a yawner.

But! I haven't done anything yet. Mostly I'm playing Dofus and listening to When It All Falls Apart by The Veronicas. I really should be studying.

School in America is actually shaping up to be pretty okay. Apparently I sound Asian-ish in real life, but put on an American accent when answering the phone at my part-time job. I don't know! It all sounds the same to me!

And maybe I'm just unlucky, but I haven't met a single decent Maths teacher yet.

And if things shape up okay, I'll be off to school in Japan for a year, in Fall (september) 2007. You have no idea how much I want to go. Life, so far, has been very good to me.

For one of my GE classes, the class was required to watch the old movie (hitam putih) Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock... or Albert Hitchcock? whateverlah. not really scary but... alamak.... boleh tahan lah. Now I get nervous when I'm dalam bilik mandi ahhahahahaha....... watch Psycho!!

Lisa and I are now pakar at using kayu satay sebagai chopsticks... inilah what happens when dorm students tiada spoons or forks.

picking up a mushroom. satay sticks are actually easier to use than real chopsticks! betul ni!

Wahahaha I just siap watch the premiere of Lost season 2!! Great show! Even though during the first few minutes, I was macam, Eh, apa ni, am I watching the right show? Macam shampoo commercial!

Very disturbing song: "Make your own kind of music, sing your own special song".

Wahhhh! ^_^

(warning: shallow post. Not meant to be in the tone of "omg-like-totally")

Humph. The bad news is that I have come to realize that despite preferring long hair, short hair looks better on me. I hate having short hair, but it works.

The good news is that I just found out today that my hairstyle is exactly like Kadaj from the FFVII: Advent Children movie. Does this mean I'm trendy?

Fall quarter starts on Sept 26. Crap. The fact that I am now a sophomore should've made me more mature, but apparently it's not working. I don't want to go back to school!!