The Red Carpet

The UMSA Ball happened last night. UMSA is the society for University Malaysian Students in Auckland..i think. Well it's a Malaysian Students Society. And I know it's all too fast to go for a ball. Simply because i've been in the uni for only 6 weeks. haha...but i love balls proms. They're always such fun to prepare for. This is actually my 6th Ball that I am attending, but that's a story for another day...=)

Anyway, I was initially supposed to model for the Fashion Show. But because I was working whenever they had practises, so I couldnt make any of them, and because they only needed 10 girls, so I didnt have to do it in the end. Which was fine except for the fact I now had to start worrying about my own hair and make up. And I had no hair pins, no hairspray, no proper rubber bands, and no proper make up set. I brought very very essential things over and it's really baffling how you never realise the little things you need from home until u go so far away from it. I thought to myself, nobody knows me here, i'm supposed to sink into the crowd and just enjoy myself anyway, doesnt really mater how i look right? So, i was gonna go with straight hair, and powder, eyeliner, blusher and lip gloss. thats all. Pretty decent already I thought.

But then Aunty Jane invited me over for lunch on Saturday and suddenly a light bulb came on in my head. Lily and Aunty Jane could help me!! So arrangements were made and yesterday morning I traveled happily to their house for lunch. Which was delicious fried meehoon and vegetables. =)

After lunch, the makeover session began. Lily and Aunty Jane got really excited. I had expected something really simple and easy, but 2 hours, 35 hair pins, and a litre of hair spray later, Aunty Jane and Lily had turned me into outright bedazzling hollywood star GLAM!haha and i loved it! They were really good and I was more than grateful! All i got them were 2 slices of cake from Eve's Pantry. will definitely get them more stuff. =) And as if that weren't enough they sent me straight to the lobby of the hotel in the city. I owe them big time!

The ball was themed The Red Carpet. Which made my recycled dress very apt for the occasion. I was on the same table with Steph & Irvin, Abby & Alex, the emcees and Amelia, a pretty kiwi girl who reminded me a bit of Jojo the singer. I was surprised that Abby got us on the VIP table. We were right in front of the stage!They had a skit which was an annual thing for the UMSA committee. And I could see that a lot of effort and time was put into it. And they were splendid! I laughed pretty darn hard at their comedic bits. It was hilarious! They had the fashion show, which was pretty alright. There seemed to be a slightly more aggressive seductive theme going on, rather than demure and sweet. I would've probably tripped down the staircase if i had modeled. haha...and the live bads were awesome! I really like how they had rock bands, slow emo bands, jazzy bands and upbeat pop bands. And people danced on the dance floor! It usually takes people ages to go onto the floor back home. And it was always rock bands at home.

I really wished Dennis was there with me. But the people at my table were really nice. Made me feel pretty at home. So yea, thanks a bunch guys.=)

And there was a bar! hahaha sad that it wasnt an open bar, though. but yea, Irvin got me red wine, and I got myself a beer after that. Alcohol at a ball is so cool. ahhaa...=)

Anyway, I'm waiting for more photos from Abby and Irvin. But these are those I have on my camera.

*click for album*

I had fun at the UMSA ball. It was nice. =)

*owww!!*

I pulled a darn muscle today. From doing an agility test. Me. A former rhythmic gymnast, current runner. Somehow managed to pull a muscle on my left thigh from a running agility test.

*in Charlie's brother's accent* "And that really really hurts!" yes it does. it hurts pretty badly. i can't do squats now. and walking up the stairs hurt as well. sighh...

***

Semester break is here! Was initially gonna be running a lot but it seems like i'd have to give it a few days off.

well, i have thought of cooking up some stuff. Went grocery shopping and bought a whole shopping bag of various veges, meat, toufu, and whatnot.

and i'll be working. but of course. but i love working. it's fun. and i love my colleagues. they're the most interesting bunch of ladies i've ever met. =)

***

imissu...

I feel GOOD! *diddi-diddi-diddi-dee*

It's been a good past few days this week! See what a big difference the weather can make on one's emotions! Ever since the sun's come up, i've been feeling less and less cranky, moody, homesick and more and more cheerful, happy, friendly. I feel more like my old self now. It is as though my personality was solar powered or something. I am back to being all bouncy and ready to go! When I first arrived, I had expected to like Auckland. Shermayne's mom greeted me that very first day i landed here, with "You will definitely love it here, it's beautiful!". Perfect! Affirmation to my very conception of this "Land of Auck" (Chan 2008). haha...yea better reference the boyfriend's creative terminology.

But then down poured the rain wetting my jeans and dampening my spirits while it was at it. It drained off my enthusiasm, and day after day I could feel my loneliness deepen as I face everyday with a grim determined soul whose only drive for each passing day was to get through the day and get back to the apartment and sit in front of the heater. My homesickness grew exponentially as the gusty winds were strong in their pursuit to blow me over, as if to say I was not welcome here. The cold air bit at my face and my fingers and the rain seeped into my shoes and socks turning my toes into popsicles. I was miserable, i admit, in my first couple of weeks here, finding solace in the few hours I am online with the boyfriend, friends and family. I'd wake up every morning, realising that I was still here and unwittingly reminding myself the reason I came here. Thats right people, all in the name of chasing dreams!

But that was then. Worry not my dear friends and loved ones, for the sun has come up, the flowers have blossomed and the grasslands are greener than ever before. Puts a smile on my face, really. Bus rides are eargerly looked forward to, as i gaze out the window in my momentarily solitude, casting my eyes on the majestic mountain horizon. It is true, what Aunty Josephine said. Auckland is beautiful.

And friends I have made. Friends who are going to join me in an upcoming run, nonetheless! I have decided to run the Rotorua Ekiden relay with some of my classmates! And I'm running for a cause nonetheless! So i'm hoping you people out there, yes YOU working big time in big banks and earning big paychecks, to spare a little change for the children!

Let me know if you want to pledge. I'll have to get all my friends to register first. Then you guys can start pledging! =)

So yes, I feel good today...really good...=) I had one mid sem test this morning which was alright. Lots of people found it to be hard. Me, i thought it was ok. But that's coz i think all tests are ok. And it's simply because I expect tests to be somewhat that hard anyway. So my OK would mean that it's got a handful of questions I couldn't quite do, but overall I think I should be able to pass. =)

Abby, my faithful lunchmate,
who accompanies me on alternate Mondays and most Thursdays!
=)

chim chim cheree

i think Dennis just sent me the saddest sounding Mary Poppins piano medley ever.

***

i have tried to wait till the end of this week to blog about this. but considering i am doing everything i can to delay hitting my notes again for tonight i have decided, what the heck. it's Week 7. yup, time does fly. not as fast as people usually make it sound, but it still flew.

where am i now? i have come to a relaxed, comfortable stage. work's been great. i believe i could live like this for a long long time. everything is going pretty darn good, what with the weather clearing up, the temperature rising and the sun coming out to play. vast green grassy areas are littered with white pretty flowers, trees have all shades of red, pink, fuchsia, orange and violet. the skies painted the bluest blue, and the hilly, mountainous land of Auckland is now basking in its glory as the land i had imagined it to be. Magnificent.

I have friends, yesiree! I have pretty close friends in my Sport Science classes and Medsci class as well. Psych is still an absolute bore. I am so glad i'm only doing 1 unit of Psychology. Medsci on the other hand, doesnt quite stop here. It gets worse in year 2 and 3. And I am not looking forward to those.

My jeans from home now kinda hangs off my hip bones. Including my denim capri which used to hug my bum. I am currently 52 kgs. This significant weight loss is due to the fact that lunch is so hard to have. I usually have a sandwich which i prepare before i leave. If not it'll be nut bars, on days where I'm too lazy to prepare. Can't deny I'm rather thrilled about the new figure, though. =) I just wonder how I am gonnna maintain it throughout summer back home in Malaysia. I reckon i'll reach 56 kilos again in a week back home...hahah...

I run at least once a week. I try to put in more than that but the weather doesnt really cooperate with my schedule. Anyway semester break is coming so i should be able to log in more mileage.

Semester break is coming! yup, half a semester done. Unbelievable...

exams

Here i am, surrounded by lecture slides and handwritten scribbles trying to register the fact that I have an exam to study for. My Sportsci 104 mid term test is on thursday and I seem to be taking it rather lightly. Could it be that I have outgrown exams? I mean i've sat for it like 1,211,2763,274 times, it's only natural to kinda get immune to exam jitters. Then again, I spent most of my exam periods in Metro blasting my winamp in my room, surfing Facebook, increasing my running mileage, and enjoying the courtship between me and Dennis. haha...

I am one who is very very rarely stressed up by exams and assignments. Never was. I don't know if that's a good thing or not. Critics (namely my parents) think if i knew how to stress a little I'd do better in my exams. Peers seem to think it's good that I don't go through the hair pulling moments they endeavoured.

Trust me, every year i'd make resolutions to be a little more concern about my exams. And every year I fail to fulfill those resolutions. It's not that I don't care. I just can't find the capacity to invest all my energy into studying. I am unable to do it. Like a disability, i could never muster it.

Oh well. Will do what I can anyhow.

So, VO2 max is measured by....

One Tree Hill

For a long time, I was a One Tree Hill addict. I was a huge fan of OTH and all its characters in the first few seasons. And then it got a bit too crazy and too out of this world but i continued to watch the series quite fondly as i was just so familiar with everything about it already. Btw, when's the next season coming out, anyone knows?I digress. When I heard there was a One Tree Hill i was really keen to go but i never got the chance to. I saw it from Mt Wellington, but i had not the time to make my way over.Today Ju Mei and her family asked me to join them for lunch. Ju Mei is Fang's cousin living here in Auckland, Ju Mei's dad is Pn Khoo's brother. =) They brought me to this really cool asian place with pretty good asian food, then brought me sightseeing! And when i heard we were going to One Tree Hill, i was ecstatic! When we got there, I was entirely taken away by this place Cornwall Park where One Tree Hill stands in the middle of. It is a VAST area of rolling hills and flowers and everything! And the best part was there were sheep! Wild and free! I saw baby lambs scattered everywhere!Then they brought me home for dinner, Ju Mei's mum cooked spaghetti! Today is probably the day I am most well fed i would say. =] and I had loads of fun. i was supposed to be studying though, coz i've got a test on Thursday. haha...Thanks a lot Ju Mei! *if she ever finds her way here*