Thankful for Life.

What a long journey this has been...

And yet there still such a long way to go...

What's so special about it, is that I'm enjoying every step along the way~

I am thankful for every single thing I have in this world.

I am thankful for a blessed, loving and supportive family.

I am thankful for a cool and awesome father who quit smoking many years ago not just because it was bad for his health, but it was also putting mine at risk.

I am thankful for a caring and patient mother who spent those days and nights helping me out with things I wouldn't have imagined possible without her help.

I am thankful for a great and wonderful big brother who gave me lots of advice, and prayed for me constantly.

I am thankful for my awesome friends, old or new, who brought in lots of laughter and joy into my student life.

I am thankful for the things in the past, be them pleasant or not, for without them I wouldn't be who I am today, typing all this right now.

I am thankful for what I had, have and will have.

As I have said, there is still an extremely long way to go in this journey...

... and in every step, there is always something new that colours my life.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CYNTHIA!!!" came shouts, messages and songs all over.

"Happy Birthday, my dear girl," came the sweet voice of my mother from the other side of the phone.

and just like that...

I'm 19 now...

... and I am thankful for that too.

Baking a Cake

To bake a cake, one needs the desire to actually begin baking a cake.

One can bake a cake for a reason, or just for fun.

To bake a cake, one needs to know the basic idea of how to bake one.

One can strictly follow the recipe, but if the recipe is followed from start to finish, there wouldn't be original... in other words, it wouldn't be YOUR cake, would it?

The amount of ingredients used for the cake may vary... it need not be precise.

One may make some mistakes at first, or not know how to proceed... but with experience, one gets better and better at baking it.

One may need the advice and help of others. One may choose to follow or not to follow the advice, but some of them really are helpful, especially from those who have more experience at baking.

To bake a cake, one has to have the expected amount of patience and never give up, even if the cake doesn't end up the way one desires it.

To bake a cake, one shouldn't complain or blame anyone or anything if the cake doesn't turn out as expected... because it is YOUR cake. Instead, figure out how to improve the cake.

To bake a cake, one must believe that the cake will turn out well, one way or another... because belief can make unexplainable, wonderful things happen.

To bake a cake, one must actually put their heart and soul into it. One must love it because without love, the end result will be less gratifying. One should enjoy the process of baking the cake, rather than think of it as a gruesome and tedious process.

To bake a cake, one must realize that rather than a cake made perfectly the first time (is there such a thing?), or a perfect cake that has already been made for you, one made through trials and self-experience is much more meaningful and rewarding.

One also must realize that improvements can always be made, and learning never stops.

Finally, once the cake is baked, the best way to enjoy it is to share it... because a cake for oneself is never delicious ;)

Baking cakes is just like living life, ain't it? xD

New Year ;)

Happy New Year, everyone!

Make your resolutions, and make sure you actually do something about it xD

Don't just talk, walk the talk!

It's time for changes, as well as time to learn and unlearn xD

So yeah, have a blessed new year, everybody!

Later~! xD

Year-End Holidays and New (with the Old) Discoveries

Yep, it's the Year-End holidays~!

In fact, I just arrived in Sandakan last night~

Just as promised, here's a longer post than the previous few xD

Well, let's flashback to yesterday...

I spent several hours in KLIA walking around, finding my way, etc etc... all alone xD

The place is huge! And the architecture is amazing! But it's sometimes easy enough to lose your way xD

That ain't a problem though, I did ask around a bit and found my way eventually without any hassle.

The great thing about being in the airport alone is that I could freely explore the place, look around me and admire the whole place...

It was awesome! It felt just like being on a secret adventure/mission or something xD

The cons though - I had to drag my baggage everywhere! Even into the toilets xD But oh well... they got home safely, just like me... so that's what matters xD

Anyway, the moment I got onto Sandakan soil, I was thinking... "Ahh... so many trees~" xD

I then got past immigration, grabbed my luggage and put them onto a trolley...

As I pushed the trolley out slowly, I looked ahead for my parents...

And when we were reunited, they told me that they almost couldn't recognize me!

Did I really change that much?

Oh well... xD

Well, now it's just the second day of my month-long holiday, but I'm beginning to relive some things~

For instance, I accessed my old external HDD that I left here and got some old songs that brings back so many memories...

The other thing is, I started playing the electronic keyboard again (by myself)

The songs that I hadn't played for years since I've stopped... ahhh~~~

I've got quite a lot to for the holidays...

Of course, I need to maintain my Russian knowledge xD

I'm gonna play as many songs as I can...

Get started with some Japanese (and German)

Big bro's comin' back next week!

We're gonna spend all the time we have with our family and friends~!

...and who knows what else 8D

...oh wait!

I remember...

I'm going to South Korea!!!!!!

Whoooooooo~~~

We're gonna have a blast xD

Later~!

Study Week

Yes, yes... I know...

Sorry for not updating this for such a long time...

Well... this week is Study Week... and next week is Exam Week =P

Study Week... the precious 1 week may seem like a lot of time, but really, it isn't O.o

Next week, after exams I shall be going home on Saturday =D

But before that, I'll need to do clearance first...

Meaning, the whole room has to be empty... including lockers, shelves, everything.

I've started with my clothes and some extra books so far...

and I'm doing food stock clearance as well...

The food stock ain't much, but it's gonna be a week of eating and drinking in the hostel xD

No matter...

About the exams... I'm not sure how much I can actually go through before sitting for the exams, but heck, I'm just gonna do the best I can...

I felt like I kinda wasn't myself for a moment...

but I'm comin' back on track!

It's not really a bad thing, in fact it helps one to discover and improve... take it as a sort of "experiment" or... "secret mission" =D

Oh well... that should be all for now =)

I suppose I'll make another post just before I depart back to Sandakan next Saturday ;P

That should make it up for not posting for so long.

Alright, just finishing up on my cup of Milo + Milk,

now I'm just gonna relax a bit, take my shower and prepare as always ^.^

Later~!

Changes

It's been quite a long time since my previous update...

So here's a simple one.

I'm making certain changes... it's like trial and error...

I'll try my new methods for this coming week =D

I'm still learning, and learning never stops. That's the best part of it.

I'll come up with a longer post when I'm more free and have more to post about xD

Later~

Die Welle

Я смотрела очень интересный немецкий фильм на последнем немецком уроке. Я люблю этот фильм. Этот фильм "Die Welle".

Translation: I watched a very interesting German movie in the previous German class. I love that film. The film is called "Die Welle".

Not too sure if the grammar is all correct or not, but that's the main idea I wanted to express... Of course the sentences are still rather simple, but that's still the level I'm at currently >.< style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">Basically, the movie is about a group of students called "Die Welle" - hence the title, and their teacher as the leader of the group.
The story starts of with a mild start - normal life, a bit of funny moments here and there... just normal student life... (or at least what's considered normal in Western culture)

Then it gets messed up - seriously messed up. In fact, so messed up that it leaves a rather disheartening feeling in me after I've watched it.

The end didn't ease the feeling either. It was so..... mixed..... I could not categorize it as a happy or sad ending - or both - no matter how I try. It was just so... way beyond words.

I don't think I should spoil the movie, because the true feeling comes from watching it yourself (though I doubt most of you would do so).
I have, though, told the whole story to a few of my friends who have not watched it... and though their reactions weren't as strong as the ones who actually watched the whole thing, it did have somewhat of an impact on them as well.

Why do I like this movie so much?

Well, first of all, I found out at the very end from the German teacher that the movie itself is based on a true story. That made the whole experience all the more creepier.

Second, for me the movie is very symbolic - in so many ways.
The plot itself is set in modern Germany, however it raises questions about the country's bloody past, about Nazism, about fascism.

At the beginning of the story, the teacher questions the class:
"Do you think autocracy can happen again in Germany?"

The class, initially does not agree at all. However, the teacher then decided to "experiment" on the students. He imposed rules, made them more "patriotic" and turned them into a close-knit group called Die Welle.

Then things turn ugly. (No spoilers here - go find out yourself xD)

Ok, so let me list out the symbolism I find (in my opinion) from the movie.

Die Welle - Nazi Germany

The students - Nazis

The teacher - A very strict German leader (i.e. Hitler)

School uniform - Military uniform

Synchronized marching to disrupt the class below them (lol) - Working together to destroy the enemies

The student's eagerness to follow every single order of the teacher - How easy it is for people to be manipulated. It also somehow shows how people seem to obey Hitler without any complaints.

The respect of the students towards the teacher - We all know for a fact that Hitler mass murdered enemies without mercy. History tells us that he was a cruel "monster". But that wasn't completely the case during the time of Nazi Germany. In fact, Hitler was supported and respected by many (because at that time people were more focused on winning against the enemy rather than world peace). Hitler's charisma and influential speaking styles made him a well-respected leader to many - that is, until the Nazi started to fall apart...

German culture - My German teacher told us after the movie that in Germany (right now) students don't wear uniforms at all. Furthermore, unlike in Malaysia (where we sing Negaraku every Monday, and even hear it on the radio every single morning), in Germany they do not have this sort of rule.
In fact, quite a number of them do not know the complete song... that is the case even of the Russians.
If you were to ask me why this is so, I would say that it is most likely an indirect effect of the past. Unlike Malaysia, which has never been involved in any big war (merely been "occupied" by greater forces), countries like Germany and Russia have a deep and bloody past behind them. School uniforms terminates discrimination between the rich and the poor, but it limits freedom and is similar to the military system of the past, where uniforms are almost always associated with the militia.
As for the anthem, I believe it is the same case. Anthems are meant to raise patriotism among citizens, but it does carry some sort of risk of raising "ultranationalism". It also reminds Germany of its past where soldier march and sing the anthems with great pride, even upon death. (I think O_o). This is not to say that they are any less patriotic just because they do not have the rule of singing the national anthem, but it just shows how the culture is molded from the past, whether good or bad.

There may be more symbols that I didn't include here, because that is all I can think of for now xD
Well, all in all, the movie had a HUGE impact on me.
When a student used a gun and pulled the trigger, I felt as if I was shot. The other students watching the movie all jumped in shock as well. That shows the power of the movie.

That's it for now ^^
A rather long post, eh?

Later~!

Discovering and Rediscovering.

Hey, it's been some time since I updated, so here goes...

I've got to say, recently I haven't been feeling like myself.
Yeah, it IS HARD to describe what's NOT MYSELF, but yeah... xD

Well, it's a good chance for me to sort of... rediscover myself.

I mean, as we all know it... learning never ends.

We learn and adapt, learn and adapt, learn and adapt...
...and that process never ends.

But that doesn't mean we can't have fun while doing so, right?

See?

That's it for now...
I know this post is really short, but oh well xD

I'll do some discovering, and once I find some interesting things,
I'll include them in my next update ^.^

Later~!

Spend Your Time...With Them.

Hello~!
It's been over a week since I came back to Sandakan...

A few more days and I'm heading back to Shah Alam...

Nothing really much to update here, just to...err... clear the dust xD

Well, as someone who has been out from home for several months,
I can tell (and/or advise) those of you who don't spend much time with your loved ones to do so.

It doesn't matter whether you are in good or not-so-good terms with them, they are precious and they are irreplaceable.

Spend as much time as you can with them. You will never regret that.

Show them how much you care and love them... because every moment you spend with your loved ones goes by ever so quickly.

Eh, I'm tearing up now... what the--- xD

Okay, it's quite late/early now... so I guess I ought to retire to bed.
I have to wake up early to have breakfast with my parents~ ^.^

Later~!

I'm home.

The title of this post is pretty self-explanatory.

That's right.

I'm home.


=)