Student Residence Permit and The Embassy

Most of the countries are taking a VISA (a sticker in the passport) as a residence pass in their country, but Finland choose to use personal identification permit, something like IC card for the foreigner. You though the function of residence permit is same as VISA? No, you are totally wrong. Once you holding their residence permit, you are a part of the Finland until the expiry date of your permit. You will have the same benefits as Finnish people, you can get the same treatment there, you won't be excluded in their events. It is also more convenient, you no need to bring your passport all they way you go because the VISA is in there (you won't choose to tear it out right?), you just carry the residence permit in your purse like how you bring your IC in Malaysia.

Actually the process of application is very fast, most of the time waste at queuing, you queue to wait for your turn. I queued for about three weeks, and they processed my visa at 12 Dec, accepted at 19 Dec, then it arrived Malaysia at 21 Dec. For US, they will send the passport to the address that you wrote when applying VISA, but for Finland, you have to visit the embassy again to collect your permit. You no need to bring any documents there because when you show them your face, they know who are you and will give you the permit after you sign on the photocopy of your permit as their reference. (Only applicable if the receptionist knows you haha!)

By the way, the embassy located at the Menara MCA, Jalan Ampang, Level 5. Once you go out from the lift, you will see a financial management office, next to it is Finland Embassy. The embassy looks like inner security room of a bank. Thick metal door with a doorbell. Once you ring it, the door will buzz and you need to pull it hard to open it (it is heavy). I lean my whole body on it to open it at the first time haha. There is only one Malaysian receptionist, and their inner office i could see a few Finnish and most of Malaysian. The embassy is just an office big, not something that I expected... a huge building with grand architecture design, royally looking...-- No. It is just an office with a heavy metal door.

Once your permit arrived, you should receive a call from the receptionist. She will tell you to pick up the permit at embassy. Just to be safe, call them every week to check if your permit arrived once you received an email for accepting your application. While mine have no problem... but my senior's case is, the embassy did not call him to pick up his permit, and he rushed there three days before his departure. (I called them so many times until they remember my name...)

It is a shame that I forget to take picture of the inner design of embassy, and I also wonder am I allow to take photo inside...? Should it remain confidential or what?

The signboard(?) at the outer wall of Menara MCA

This shield-like logo found beside the metal door

I Get An Offer!

I received email from both ISEP and the institute from Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland. You just need to wait for the PPAF and IIS to come and complete the PPAF, which you need to reupload some document that you did on the ISEP page, as the ISEP is just a middle-man between you and the institute there, sometimes the institute do not get much information from ISEP. Then you will also start to process passport and visa things once your insurances is done. Person-in-charge will buy the insurances for all of us, go don't worry much about this. Just make sure whatever she asked, you respond as fast as you could. Different institute will have different type of doing stuff. As for my friends from Orenda also, Fatiha going to Univeristy of East Tennessee, US received an e-manual regarding all of the information she needed whether it is about the orientation program or the culture, expenses and everything she need to know. Chiang Kai Huei received a hard copy from University of South Indiana, US which they post it to him. a huge and heavy manual. While I received nothing, since I am the first ISEP student that will go to their institute, kind of like white rat. They are so passive, if I don't ask, they wont answer. This is quite disturbing as do they assume that I know everything without people teach me? This is not coded in gene ok? Self-learning is also not applicable here as there is no model for me to mirroring.

I explore myself and found out that I need to apply for my housing, so I went to the page and click on one of the option, then found out that i need to pay about 290 euros first. As i mention, we no need to pay for housing as it includes in ISEP benefits, so I email them and ask what happened now. 

Upper message is one of the question I asked regarding housing, and they reply me this...

Second part of the email. I can see that they are in chaos...

This is the first problem that i faced... this actually bothered me for a week and I am quite worried, if they insisted that I need to pay the rental, then every month 290 euros... no I can't imagine how would it be. It is really a huge relieve when they said it is actually their miscommunication problem.

Then the PPAF and IIS finished, my health insurances safely arrived (?) to me also, so I immediately apply my visa online via enterfinland.fi The document needed are passport pdf, evidence of acceptance letter from Finland institute, means of support, reasons, and so on. After online application, you need to go to Finland Embassy to prove your identity and have your finger print. Before that, remember to bank in to their account and bring the receipt along with the attachment. I paid RM1400.

This is the website for online visa application. You need to create an account before you apply. Choose First Residence Permit, then choose Student Residence Permit for our case. 

Apply it as early as possible since the visa normally need 6 weeks to proceed (for finland), US case is faster, but US need to interview when you apply, Finland no need. When you go to embassy there, you can contact person-in-charge and ask her to prepare a car for you, but allow her 3 days to book the car for you. The driver will send you to the embassy and wait for you, send you back too. 

After you submit it online, you still need to print all the attachment and the form of online application out, bring it to the embassy and hand in one more times. That time, the person there told me my insurances coverage not enough as they said they need 100k euros, but mine only 25k US dollar. I was like going to speak bad words as no matter how I explained that is the one and only one insurances I can buy for my ISEP, they still told me I need to buy extra one, maybe private insurances company such as APA or AIG. I quite worried as I am afraid my visa could not proceed, but you know what, my senior do not face this problem when he went to Finland. I asked my senior, Khairul Izwan about this, he has no idea, nor do Kak Asiah (person-in-charge) know. I confirmed with them, so with this problem, can my visa proceed? Luckily they told me still can proceed, just maybe later the Finland Govrn there will send me an email about this. Relieved! If like that, I will wait until they email me.

Just a few days ago, I received an email from Finland, and I though is my insurances problem, but no! It is about my means of support. They requested me to send evidence to prove that I have 1170 euros in my bank account plus evidence that I have at least 560 euros per month to cover my living expenses. God knows I send them three document about my benefits, which coverage is 650 euros per month!! I still left less than 20 days before departure, and now they ask me something like that. You know the most funny is, they said any enquiries can email them. When I email, they auto-reply me stated that they already received and in order to make sure high-efficent, they won't reply message. WT... i called embassy in Malaysia, they do not know about this (what!?), Kak Asiah also don't know, Khairul also don't know... Luckily, just now the person work there email me about this, and say it was their miscalculation. Can I curse?

I wonder why my VISA application so many problems... and most of them are either miscommunication or miscalculation. When I feel relieved, I feel I want to punch them in face too. My Visa was accepted and now just waiting for it to deliver to Malaysia's Finland embassy. 

Oh yah by the way, I joined the fb group for incoming spring term 2017 exchange student in abo akademi university. I just got to know something called Student Union card from Khairul too... they did not tell me about this. Student Union Card is something that we should apply if we want our life easier and get discount when buying things there.

Applying ISEP

I know ISEP at my Orientation Week, when they show us the video about our senior and also picture of seniors that went ISEP. They persuade us to apply for it, and I personally like to go travel very very much! SO i applied.

When I went to the taklimat, boom!!! Mind blown. OMG there are so many steps to do. You know what? I saw my friends' face all turn green. Well I guess mine maybe not better than them. Almost break down that time when I open the page and saw more than 200 universities available and I need to filter it one by one, from language requirement to course provided. From the benefits to living cost. This process really took a long time, and I struggled for almost one sem. I though I couldn't make it, but I went through it. At that time, I met Dr Hazalizah (my KJ) several times, Kak Asiah (person-in-charge) many times thru email, and Dr Nurul Ain (my academic reference). I had my laguage proficiency interview by Dr Raja (TESL lecturer) and I suggest her, she is the most easy interviewer among the rest. Choose her if she is one of the interviewer.

Then the essay part, haha this one funny,. I have my friend backup me. I wrote the essay, and she checked it since I tend to make a lot of grammar mistake. Actually I took about two months to complete the essay as I want to make it perfect, as perfect as possible. I take back my english level when SPM (my legend time hahaha😆) and rocked my brain hard, then my friend will help me in correct the grammar error. I edit and edit for several times and upload it because the due date is tomorrow... if not, i will continue edit it until i satisfied. This is one of the paragraph...
"Overall, the reasons I want to take part in ISEP is because I hope to displace my ignorance with enlightenment on the subtleties of a different way of life, even if it is not too entirely different from my own now. I would say that this is one of the most exciting decisions I have made in my life"
Even i look back at my own essay now, I couldn't believe that it was once from my brain.

The applying part is very tortured for me... as I like to settle things fast and in once, but this one I could only settle it one by one, at a very slow pace... That was really torture! 

When you are applying, you think that nothing is more complicated than these.... yah i think that too, not until I started my step two...

About ISEP

I guess I should update my progress of ISEP here, as a reference for those interested and also my personal refresh.

Before I start, I want to mention that without passion and determination, applying ISEP will be very suffer as it involve a lot of parties and need to refer a lot of people, need to do a lot of documentation task and emails. Lots of student give up half way just because the procedure is too hectic and the process is too long. The price you pay is also big, you need to mentally prepare that you might need to extend sem in some rare cases. Not only during application, when you come back to UPSI, you still have a lots of cleaning to do, transfer credits and so on. You have to be very independent as most of the problems you face when applying you need to settle on your own. Although we will receive some scholarship there, either it is in voucher form, invoice form, or bank in, we still need to invest money before going there (unless you are not going to their winter season). Because my tern will go at Jan-May, so it is still winter. We need to buy winter clothing and it is not cheap in Malaysia. Seniors suggest e to buy at Family Bundle in Ampang, but they went to US, mine is Finland, a lot more colder than US, so I choose to refer my senior that went to Finland, and he suggested Universal Traveller(UT) and Sox World. I personally suggest you to buy from UT too if you have the budget (Or Winter Times, more expensive!), but if don't have, maybe can try Uniqlo or Terranova. For clothing, I spend almost a thousand. Think carefully before apply. Yet, ISEP really brings benefits and it is very shame if we don't apply.

This is how the ISEP page looks like. To sign in, click the "log in" at upper right, or directly go to sat.isep.org

So first let me brief a bit what is ISEP. ISEP is acronym for International Student Exchange Program, as it's name says the function so I just skip it. ISEP is not the only organization that serves exchange student, but also include ERASMUS and so on. Something that UPSI student should cherish, UPSI is the one and only one Malaysia's institute that participate in ISEP. In the other word, only UPSI student can apply for ISEP (hurray!) Yet, before you apply make sure to ask your dean / KJ as they might forbid you for applying...(especially education program) The website: http://isepstudyabroad.org   or   http://sat.isep.org

To apply ISEP, First you need to be sem 2, and you need to attend a taklimat held by bahagian akademik 3 every sem. The venue will be inform once you email to the person-in-charge for registration. Timetable will be announce at upsi portal, so stay alert! When you attend the taklimat, person-in-charge will teach you all the steps and open an ISEP account for you, which you will frequently visit and fill in the document needed in the account.

As i mention first, documentation process takes a long time. I just briefly explain a bit here, the rest when you attend taklimat you will know all.

After log in, this is what you will see

There are six section you need to fill in, and each section will have sub-section.

1) Participant Profile
- Biographical Information (name, gender, address, citizenship)
- Dependents ( just select "NO" if you don't have a child)
- Emergency Contact
- Academic Information (Your major, minor, expected graduation date, list of classes taken, terms for ISEP and so on)
- Terms and Condition ( look thru it before accept)

2) Host Request List
For this process, you need to filter all the universities available for UPSI and email them one by one to get the information about the list of benefits they give, qualification to apply and so on. Some university / country need certain language requirement such as Australia, England... they need TOEFL or IELTS. Japan or Germany, France, Spain they need their language level certificate. Be patient when gathering the information as this process will take most of the sem (almost one sem). Fill in at least 10 institute. Mostly go to US, or Korea.

3) Course Request List
This process you need to contact their academic department / education service or whatever they called that in charge for academic part. You need to ask them the course syllabus (UPSI called it RI). Even though the subject you take have the same name with subject in UPSI, but sometimes the syllabus is not same, this will cause problem when you come back, maybe you cannot transfer credits. This step is very crucial as you need to print out the RI and meet your Ketua Jabatan (KJ) and ask them whether you can take this subject or not. If can, ask them to sign on the RI if they agree you can take the subject as an evidence. (sometimes they quite forgetful). Fill in the courses you want to take at every institute you apply just now.

4) Documentation
- Language Proficiency (you need to interview at UPSI by TESL lecturer to test your english ability to speak with confident and grammatically correct)
- Personal Statement (you need to write an essay with 300-350 words. This is the question I get, maybe they won't change question?  "ISEP is unique because it offers the opportunity for full immersion in the host culture. However, it is your responsibility to make the most of this experience. Introduce yourself and explain your academic goals for studying abroad and for integrating into the host culture. What specific situations from your past (i.e., coursework, job experience, travel, intercultural experience) have helped you prepare to accomplish these goals?")
- Academic Reference (you need to find a lecturer that is at least Dr title to be your academic reference, or we called it PA - Penasihat Akademik. They will received an email to rate you. Remember to find somebody that is quick and not lazy... they need to upload one document, if they did not upload, you will not be accept by the ISEP)
- Passport (upload your passport pdf of the identification page. If you don't have a passport yet, just check the box indicate that you are processing)
- Transcript (latest final result)
- Additional Information (no need)

5) Coordinator Reference
(no need, not your job)

6) Application Fee
(no need)

This is just the first step. When all these settle, and you shall get an answer from ISEP at the first few weeks of next semester. Then you can proceed to the second step. You need to fill in the form that person-in-charge email you so that academic there can help you to buy insurances. The university that accept you will contact you soon. There is the time where you can ask question about the institute, academic and so on. You will have a guidelines (or maybe not) that teach you how to apply visa.

You will start to settle things such as your housing there, bank, visa, at that semester. The rest I will share later in my own experience post.

The benefits of applying ISEP are, it actually opens your eyes that let you see how good is other countries in academic area. You can compare between two countries, having vacation while studying where your housing and meals are provided (in other word, free!). You can meet new friends that have different language, skin, hair and races. You do not need to pay for the tuition fee there, UPSI will pay for you, and all you need to do is pay the tuition fee at UPSI (around RM1500 per sem that we need to pay every sem). UPSI will pay for your VISA, passport and flight ticket too, You just need to pay for your own personal expenses such as vacation, transport fee, books and so on. While there are cons too. Like my case, I am going to Finland which is an Europe country, that the education system is totally different. It is hard to transfer credits and I might not even transfer one of them, so I am at high risk of extend sem, but I think it does not bother me much as the experience itself worth a lot. Not to mention the time consuming procedure, when you come back UPSI still got a lot of things to settle, sometimes it might drag until sem 8 also haven't settle. Even though you do not need to pay much. but if you go to Spring term, you still need to buy winter cloths as January still consider winter if you go to western country. Europe country even worst as like Finland 365 days are cold, January can reach -30. Winter cloths not cheap in Malaysia... in Universal Traveller, one coat alone cost you about RM300 cheapest.

You Have No Reason to Do This

All the meetings and quizzes all squeeze in the same day, and the same time, I do not think that it is my fault, and then, that lecturer do not have any reason to do such a stupid decision too.

"Sorry Sir, we have another quiz at the same time..."
"For those who can come, just come, For those who can't attend, don't come then. You all are really problem maker."

I don't see there is any problem maker in our classroom, and obviously half of the class cannot go on that time. As a lecturer, he should change another time that can match most of us, and the minority will find another quiz time, but not HALF of us! And what do he means that PROBLEM MAKER? Just simply change the time and that's it!

What he do as a lecturer? He simply complain on our class and stay to his not-so-wise (and even stupid) decision, then claimed that we are the one who finding problems. Now I see the one who creates problem is he. I did not say more in class, actually I have another two meeting, which all held at four different place but same time. Do you think I know any shadow XXXX from ninja, which I can divide myself in four and attend all the meeting and quiz at the same time? Ha!

Please, students are busy too. Don't take things too easy, man. Some student even more busier than lecturer.

Argh, cool down.

Lecturer As A Professional

While lecturer is delivering class, I think it is better to put aside personal belief system right? It is not wrong if they are loyal to their religious or race, but it is not appropriate to critic others religious or races when it disobey their belief system.

I do not know who give him that qualification to critic it in the class, and even talk about the so-called facts about others race and religious, create further misunderstand among his students. When religious and race issue are mention in the syllabus of the lecture, lecturer should teach and deliver fully the true fact (or at least what include in the syllabus, they should teach) but not skip all the other religious and only magnified their own belief system. Lecturer is a professional job. as a profession, they should show their quality as a pro. Lecturers are paid to deliver correct facts, but not belief system and brain washing their student.

Especially in Malaysia, issues about race and religious is quite sensitive, I do not agree on mention the issue in class, as this really isn't a good idea when they know their class is mix races and religion (even not mix, they shouldn't mention it too).

I am free thinker (which means no specific religion), but I still feel insult when the lecturer speak all the bad things about other religious.

Lecturer have their right to have a belief system, so do their student. It is really not a good idea, and a terribly bad idea to talk bad other belief system.

Not An Excuse If You Are Female

Always hear some people (obviously girls) say this:
"Where are the guys? We are girls, we can't do that."

When female can't do a thing, especially when it relates to hectic task such as carry a box, automatically our gender will become an excuse. Just like today's post-mortem for Pesta Chun, not specifically address anyone, but the most frequent excuse for not doing job well is "We are girls." "We have no boys in our group."

It really bothering me. As a female, I do not think that when you are a female, you can't do anything that a guy can do. Not to mention feminism, but, as a committee, we should do our best but not depends on someone, especially using gender as an excuse, Indeed, guys have their advance, they have more muscle mass than girls, but do bear in mind, no women can't live without a man, women (and for human) can't live without human, and it doesn't mind that the human is guy or girl. Do not depend too much on guys, they will feel tired.

Human limits are unlimited. We are not using our full strength in daily life. See, don't say that if you are a women, you lose. If so, why still have women win in weight lifting can counter a guy? That is the power within human. Excuses makes us feel ease and restrict us from break out the limit. What we initially can do become can't when we start making excuses.

Stop using "I am a girl" as excuse to avoid hectic task and blame on guys for not giving support. They are not born to be our worker, do not think that when it comes to physical work, find a guy. They are superior in physical but that is not a reason for them to do all tiring job, just like you are clever but doesn't mean that you have to be a scientist.

Gender stereotype should be avoided when comes to work. Guy can be as gentle and neat in doing their task, and girl can be very wise in making decision. I encounter many guys who are very gentle and girls who are very cool. Just take an example, the hair stylist guy I met at Pesta Chun. He is very gentle guy ,soft in speaking and he treats our hair very gentle. Normally I hate to find a female stylist as they are rude in styling your hair - I think they treat my head as their training puppet. Guys are mostly more gentle, it is very comfortable when they very neatly comb your tangled hair. Another example, our ex-chinese representative is a girl, and she is wise in making decision, debate and so on.

The world is in transformation, and the gender border become blurrier, most of the task are shared by both gender. So, do not use gender as an excuse in escaping job. Equality.

Loveats Cafe

Loveats located at Taman Universiti, Tanjung Malim, which is a favourite spot for students nearby to pick for a dinner or celebrate event.

Unlike other cafe, Loveats mainly serve on burgers. Besides, it also have western cuisine such as chicken/fish/lamb/beef chop or steak. The burger also available in those four meat include a veggie burger.

The design is normal I would say, and the light inside I consider it as slightly dim, but the overall atmosphere is comfortable, and the staff there is helpful too, as long as you ask for service. Basically, the design fulfill what a cafe should look like, and it follow the main stream - woody design.

You will be introduced how to take order by the staff if you are the first time. They are self service cafe (except serving), you need to tick the order list and walk to the cashier to pay. Pay before you eat. Their service speed is moderate. At its peak hour (dinner time, around 6pm), you will have to wait for at least half an hour to get your order.

Right wall

Menu for burger

Left wall

Cashier

Today, I would like to introduce two dishes, one burger and one western cuisine.

For the burger, I ordered fish burger which available in two flavor. One is normal with cheese inside, and other is with their special hot sauce (i did not find any special on that sauce). The fish they use deep fried, but the fish inside is not as dry as I expected. It comes with seasoned steak cut fries and special sauce (looks like thousand island) with a drink when you order it with set (RM 5 added). If order ala carte, the prize around RM8.90 to RM10.90 depends on the burger you order.

Fish burger comes in set

The fish is thick

(Please bear with the quality of the image... I am so lazy to do any edit on it...)

The bread is charcoal bread, and what it differs from the fast food is, the bread is moist and softer, and it taste sweet. The bread indeed add many marks for the whole burger. Inside the burger there is no much mild sauce, so when eating, you will find it is difficult to swallow if you didn't drink any water.

The fries taste great when serve hot.

About the western cuisine, I tried lamb shoulder.

Lamb shoulder

It cannot be classified as steak if it is only this thick

I would like to say, I am not a fan of lamb, as it taste funny every time I ate it. This time, since the lamb shoulder here get quite lots of positive comments, I decided to try it out, and the result was appealing. The meat is tendon, and it does not have the smell that lamb will have. It is well-cooked, and the sauce is black pepper sauce. Eat it while it is hot, because it will turns hard to swallow when cool. The taste is splendid.

The side dishes were incredible too. I like the mashed potato so much, that I even order it if the mashed potato does not included in my set. The potato was serve with mushroom soup, and it cause the potato to taste milder. The corn was brushed with salted butter before steam (is it steam?) and the salad was fresh. Just a little bit comment on the salad... when I first come to the cafe, the cherry tomato I get half of it, but now only a quarter...

Salad

Mashed potato

The most astonishing is I found a surau in here (a place where muslim conduct their prayer)

They open after 5pm, so it can only be a site for dinner.

This cafe I will continue updating. ^_^

Worth It, Or Not?

Be low profile, so that you won't be judge too much by others.

I know this since secondary school, and yet I failed to practice it. I find it quite hard to maintain low profile, as I am not the one who are filled with a lot of talent, I have nothing special to show off, hence I cannot be too transparent in social, or otherwise I will lose my game. I was debating inside myself, whether I need to maintain low profile or show them what I have inside me. Lots of different suggestions I received. From lecturer, they told me to shine. From friends, they told me to be low profile.

I know piano, but only until Grade 4. There are tons of people who know how to play piano, some of them even Grade 8 or until diploma. I know how to do dessert, but with lots of video in Facebook now, everyone can make it. I know how to sing, but not so sweet. I know how to compose a story, but many of them could do the same thing.

I am not special, I know that.

So, one day, I decided to show off what I have inside me, so that I won't be so transparent, but... I experience a lot after that.

Set today's case as an example.

The door was locked when I went out with housemate. It end out we were locked outside. They tried to call for friends and shouting here and there to ask others housemate to open the door, and yet the room seems no one inside. I didn't want to waste my time in waiting for others to come back and open the door for us, so I was thinking, how to open it without a key. I am a type of person that have a lot of theory inside my head, and some useless minor knowledge that not everyone knows, because they do not think that kind of knowledge is necessary, such as, the mechanism of the door knob. As I mention, I m theory type person, and the so-called useless knowledge comes handy here. I know the mechanism of the door knob and how it works, so I came out with a theory——

"If I could pass through a rope, or something that can hang on the latch bolt, then pull the rope, the door should be open."

I found a nylon rope which used to be a hanger for cloths to open it, and I succeed. They were so astonished and I have to admit that, I feel proud, because I can do something that they can't do. After that, they asked me a question.

"Can you open our bedroom's door as well?"
"What do you mean?"
"Because it is very dangerous if you can."
"……no, I can't."

While the fact is, I could if I want to. I just need a minute or so to think of a theory and a minute to practice it. But, why should I do that? As long as I am not interested in break in your room, I would not know how to do it. I don't know they believe me or not, but I can sense something. If one day, their belongings missing, I think I will be the biggest suspect, as I could open the front door without a key, so do the bedroom.

So here's the advise. Before you want to do something that others' can't do, think first. whether it worth it or not. For me, it worth, because if they really treat me like a thief, then I can end my relationship with them, it makes me look clearly how they are.

Worth it? Worth it.

Hitz Cafe

Hitz Cafe located at Tanjung Malim, Perak. It has menu with large scoop of choices, include dessert (lava cake, ice cream etc), beverage (ice blended, hot/cold), steaks, lamb, chops, spaghetti, local foods (nasi lemak) and etc.

Front door view

The general design looks like 80's studio, the wall are decorated with famous artist classic famous artist such as Marilyn Monroe and Michael Jackson. While the other side is paint drawing by artist named Chai. Basically the decoration mainly to wood and the lighting consider medium. Overall, the design fulfill what a cafe should like, in the other words, the design is normal. No much decoration except the wall and counter. The table is clean, I mean, totally clean. You can't find any chili sauce or tissue there, but that all will settle after that. Extra: They do have special menu which are written above the counter when you walk in. The prize range from MYR10-20 for meal and 6-12 for beverage and dessert.

Left wall decorated with photos of the famous

Right wall painted with Perak famous tourist spot

About the food, I ordered a Grilled Chicken Chop with Black Pepper Sauce. Time taken for serving within 15 minutes, beverage can be served in 1 minute waiting (that is very fast!). At this time, service crew will give all the utilities and tissue. Oh, WiFi available. (this is very important). The plating overall looks simple and clean, except the salad, it is not so appealing... but I do feel hungry at the moment of serving.

The plating

The salad only have two pieces of cucumber, one piece of tomato and shredded carrot with mayonnaise. The vegetables were a bit dehydrated, but it is normal to salad since they sliced it and put aside to fasten up the deliver speed.

The salad

Unlike salad, the fries taste better than its look, crispy outside and soft inside. I usually do not like fries that served along with the chops because most of it was dry, and the potato inside taste like powder, but this fries really taste great. I would like to praise for their service attitude here, as my eyes wandered around the table to look for chili sauce, they immediately pass it to me before I asked. They pay attention to their customer and will detected any unusual, give quick service before customer ask. Most of the cafe can't do that, they only quickly approach to you when you want to order (some of them you even have to raise up hands and shout for service). I would like to give a 5 stars for their service.

Fries

The chicken taste a bit dry, maybe overcooked. It is not juicy inside, and the meat they use is drumstick. The black pepper sauce taste combination of little bit sweet, little bit of sour and hot. It does not make me feel greasy after i finished my meal, and it eventually help me in open my appetite. Even it was cooled, the taste still remain, fries still as crispy as it is, and the meat taste just fine. Overall I will give 6/10 for the taste.

As you can see the chicken looks a bit dry

I will go for the next time to try different cuisine and update on this blog.

Makeup = Plastic Surgery

I joined protocol because I want to wear pretty skirts and my hair done. I just assume we have to do it by our own, or by friends, but I did not expect that we could have an makeup artist and hairstylist for us, it really made me excited when I hear that news. But how, when I done all my make up, I was kind of... shocking. I hardly find where is me in the picture after the event, and my friends who came the pesta just pass by me without give me a glance. So sad. They only stopped when I called them ,and they looked blurred. They hardly recognized me without second glance. Once they knew that that was me, they shouted.

The first task went back home is to wash my face thoroughly. I tried to wash only half of it, and I scared myself. It was two different face! Maybe I am monolid and that is why my eyes did not change too much, my my brow, my face shape, my skin tone... Oh my god.  Well, at least not only me who do "plastic surgery" yesterday. ^_^

Have We Lost Our Passion?

I have been longing for today, the biggest event in this university - Pesta Chun - an event that celebrate Chinese New Year of Monkey. At morning rehearsal, first session is for elementary school who willing to perform traditional umbrella dance, I feel so touched when they all dance so glee, a lot of laughter i hear from the audience seat. Unlike what we perform, when we rehearsal, we could hardly hear a laugh, everybody was so stress in deliver perfect performance and make us forget about enjoy. The children they laugh, they smile, they dance so gleeful. I was influence by them and laugh together. I enjoy their performance. This is the real performance! Performance should make audience laugh and become a part of the performer, and drag audience into the world that they want audience to feel. Our performance nearly perfect, I could tell, but i sense something is not right. I can't tell what is wrong, because the performance nearly flawless. Now I can tell, we do not have the spirit inside. The performance like would not appeal audience, even me as a part of the committee cannot feel that pleasant. Have we lost our passion in performance? We lost. We forget out aim and motive. We lost.

Hard to Tell

If we success now, it does not guarantee than we will success in future too. Don't think too far, maybe you success now, but tomorrow fail for the exam or quiz?

I am not that kind of person that study hard, neither smart. I study at last minute, and the most probably reason for me to score in academic is luck. I bet on the section and chapter that out from the exam. I success now, and attending Majlis Anugerah Dekan (which means dean list ceremony). About 300 of acceptance in the list, and I am only one of it.

Well, I undergo many ups and downs, i had straight As for PMR, and that made me ego, but I get a B for my BM in SPM. It is really hard to describe when you usually success, all along your life without fail, and suddenly get a B, while all of your friends get straight A for that. You will be sitting down there, watching them receive all the claps and lights, and you cried down there. 

Since then, I hardly focus on my academic. It is really hard to predict the change. I used to spend 10 more hours per day in reading books, but now, I refuse to do that. I can't tell what makes me change. 

Complaint After You Know All The Details

I just went back from a rehearsal for a big event held five days after today, and what I am participating is protocol crew, and I am in charge of VIP room plus stage run.

Today I just know there are a lot of complaints about protocol, which others crew show their disapproval over us. Maybe I am a slow catch-up, yesterday plenty people asked me: "Why your group train for so long?", I thought they just show their caring. Ha, what a so-called caring they gave.

What unbearable is, they did complaint, but did not gave specific comment. The only line I heard was "They are not good." Where? What we did until others are not satisfied with us? If want to give comment, please specify it so that we can change. Others might saw what we did not saw, and that is what I want! I want a constructional comment, but not just critic.

They will never know how hard we train. Where are they when we were wearing that stupid high heels and walking around the house like an idiot? Where are they when we training, walking from end to end of the hall for 3 hours non-stop just to keep their ass safe from being critic by VIP and audience? Where are they when we put our task priority our starving stomach?

They will never know how hurt it is when our foot are full of blister, but still need to maintain our smiling face. We cannot even enjoy ourselves in the show, we have to be always prepared. And I, will stay in the VIP room, then backstage. I will not having a chance to watch at the show.

But, what we get? We get complaints, a lot of complaints but same sentence: "They spend a lot of time in training and that is what comes out?"

Please, please please, judge before complaint.

About Future as Psychologist

Since I miss many important events in my life, and now i am tending to forget all those things, I decided to write it all in a blog, so I can refer it back whenever I want.

Now let's talk about future. Future is unpredictable. I thought I will pass an interview for medicine course, but it wasn't. Instead, I accept offer from UPSI (FYI, it is an educational university), but I won't accept it if I will be a teacher in future. I get Psychology in Hons as open market course.

It really troubles me and make my mood blue for a few days. I never thought I would get this - well, at least I can get pharmacy.

Psychology was my dream before. Yes, was. It was a dream at primary school and lower secondary, but then I see no job vacancy in Malaysia, I immediately get rid it out of my mind.

"What can I do if I become a psychologist? Treat mental illness? Oh for goodness sake, Malaysian tend to search for psychiatrist than psychologist. They can simply cure buy taking pills, rather than bubbling with so-called psychologist. You only spend money on that one hour consultation for chatting." They thought.

I found no bright future when I get the offer, but someone told me, It is great to take your old dream back. Hence, I go without more hesitation. "Nothing worse than now." I think.

I tried to convince myself, as what I used to do, I love psychology. I damn love it. And it worked, as usual.

I still don't know what can I do for my future, but now I do love psychology. It is really amazing (and sometimes upset) when you can know whether the person is lying or not. Or even know what they feel right now. Do they feel nervous? Do they feel irritate? Do they feel offended? When I asked: "Hey, are you telling lies?" they shocked, and most of them after I asked for a few times, they admitted. Sometimes quite sad, but it is okay as you know now who is telling lies to you. You can control the whole thing when you know what they think. And yah, psychologist is not wizard, we can't know a piece without observe. It doesn't comes rolling. STOP SAYING SUCH THINGS like "Oh you can read my mind!" when I tell you I take psychology course. I DO NOT READ YOUR MIND, I observe your behavior.

For now, I only prefer to become a clinical psychologist. I need to further explore before I really decide what I want to be.

Just as my friend, Phang. We chat on messenger just now, and she is on her right path. She passed her dentistry interview, and success to fulfill her dream. But now, she do not want to be a dentist, but a surgeon for oral and neck. She rarely change her mind without certain reason, but if she decided, she will go for it. Her future is predictable, a surgeon, unlike me.

I still does not know much about clinical psychologist, but now I hope, I can be a caring psycologist, that will make my mom proud of me.