Winter Break Stop 7-Niagra Falls to Boston

Woke up early just to sit on the bus all the way 2 Niagra falls again, this time for the day view.

As we approach the Visitor's center, it was not the same place that they brought us yesterday. It was near the American falls this time and man was the American falls HUGE!!! Saw the Horseshoe Falls from a distance and realised how wide it must be! wanted 2 walked over but it was too far and we only had a limited amount of time. So did the only logical thing- took more pictures of the American Falls rapids. It was there that we saw a few pairs of ducks swiming at the Rapids. There were at least 6 pairs swiming at that fast flowing water, packing each pair taht swims pass each other. It was incredible that they can actually swim at water flowing at such high speed!!! but it was cute as well...kinda made me wish I had someone 2 'swim' with too=) LOL

After that was a 9 hour bus ride driving from Niagra Falls, New York to Boston, Massachusetts. Had a few stops along the way but the ride was LLLLOOOOONNNGGGGG!!! became a pig along the way. Wake up, makan, toilet, sleep, wake up, makan, toilet, sleep again....LOL

Finally we reached Boston at 7pm and we went straight for dinner and guess waht we had 4 dinner!!! 2 pounds LOBSTER!!!!! we had 2 as YR and I shared with her mum to split up the cost=) It was my first time ever eating lobster!!! it was HUGE!!! I had no idea where 2 start but just dived right in. when I was trying to break it open, as usual i used too much force and the shell broek open, spilling 2 my neighbour sitting next 2 me. It was SO SO SO EMBARASSING!!! I apologise like mad!!! HE was cool with it as his whole family found it funny and we just laughed it over. He is from Bali and we're from Malaysia, so friend friend lo=) After that we managed 2 kopek everything open and when I eat the meat, IT WAS SO SO SO GOOD!!! So fresh and juicy!!! We had other food as well like vege and meat but still, the LOBSTER WAS GREAT!!!


After dinner we went 2 the hotel for the night. We have 2 wake up tomorrow at 5am so taht we can go around Boston 2molo so got to go sleep now=)

Till then...ciao=>

Birthday Getaway

It was fall break and my birthday so Kaori, Brian, Oona, Rabya and me went 2 Minnapolis, it was so long d since I havent gottten out of Mankato that I was so jakun when I left. I felt stupid at times but hey when u dun have a car here, Everything is far. Here public transport is crap so I appreciate Malaysia more now even though our public transport is crap too.

We went to Edina, Brian's dad's house. It was a sub urb setting at the place was GOOD!!! It was a rich man's area wei. according 2 Brian, CEOs of BestBuy, Walmart, Target and others all own houses here. There was a house wif 6 LUXURY cars like cardillac, ferrari and all. I only manage 2 see the cadillac when the garage open but still!!! Americans with their material possessions~~sigh...

We went to Mall of America and walked the whole day 4 min 4 hours and that also we didnt finish the mall...Too big d la the mall!!!....

Went back to Edina n on the way we brought Alchohol. We had a drinking spree at the basement and needless to say, I join in the fun la. I drank and drank and drank and yes, I was drunk...for a while. I was tipsy and spoke crap. Almost smoked weed when it was offered but had to restarin myself as i'm inexeperienced and the experience ppl also didnt want to. So since the experienced ppl didn't do it, I dun think i should. It was a smart call cause the pplk who did smoke after tat was GONE!!! They had no idea what happened and we woke up at 1pm. It was great though. During that time they celebrated my birthday and I had a birthday Pizza! I love practicality!!=)

On our way home we talkeda bout what happened last night and realised all the crap we were talking and I was embarassed at the info i let loose 2 them. It was nothing serious but still i would Never had those conversations if i was sober.LOL. It was a great trip and it was all Thanks to Kaori, Mufasa/Brian(lol), Oona and Rabya!!! Love u guys=)

I came back on saturday doing laundry and watch loads and loads of drama!!! desperate housewives, grey's anatomy all the shebang!!LOL...ah its stuff like this that I love america=)

On Sunday after church, The Winchs (my friendship family) took me out for a birthday makan! It was so sweet of them. They took me to Buffolo wings which was a great place to hang out! They even gave me presents!!! I got a sweater and a blanket!!! They tied it themselves. pics are on FB!!! It was lovely!! So happy and Greatful to tyhe lord for always providing 4 me evn though i'm so far away from home. He still looks after His child and I'm eternally grateful!!!!

So my weekend was a great one and I hope next week will be better. till then...ciao=)

Malaysian Gathering and more..

This weekend was indeed a highlight!

Friday saw me shopping with Jesse, Sully, Isabel and Mirjana. We went around town and it was good.

Saturday was when the fun started. The Homecoming perade was fun and I joined as a flag bearer. Carried the Malaysian Flag around and when ppl ask meif I'm Malaysian, they were surprised that I was. So funny! The Homecoming parade was on Saturday and Sully and I participated. We were supposed to be flag bearers for our countries in our traditional clothes under the International Students Association’s banner but the weather was too cold for us to wear them. We just went in our jackets and joined the parade. It was great fun to see all the floats that the people had decorated. The theme for Homecoming was ‘Stomper Saves the Day’. Stomper is the MSU mascot. There were all sorts of different forms of Stomper. He was Batman, The Hulk, Spiderman and Superman and many more. The floats were decorated with them. Some of the figures on the floats even moves. The students really put effort into them. The Sororities and Fraternities also had their own floats. They were very nicely decorated. The African Students Association was behind our float and they had African music blasting behind their float. It was cool as they danced down the parade. We walked for about half and hour and then we stopped as the weather was too cold. It was raining that morning so the temperature was pretty low.

At six, Glenn picked me up to go to Rachael’s birthday. It was fun as I got to meet their friends and family. They introduced me as their international family. So sweet of them=) They had a bonfire burning outside and it was so nice to be around the fire during the cold. We play volley ball till dark that Glenn drove his car to their backyard and shined the court and we continued playing. When Rachael and Alyssa’s friends found out where I come from, they were so interested to find out more about Malaysia and when they realised how old I was, they could not believe me. We had fun together. We then gathered around the fire and Rachael showed me how to make smores. It was so much fun roasting the marshmallow and it tasted good. The marshmallow just melted in the heat and when I put it into my mouth, it was sweet and savoury all together in a bite. So lovely! We chatted around the fire and I learnt of 3 siblings who were adopted from Russia- Andrei, Vladimir and Anna. They were so open about it and Vladimir was just a fun kid to be with. When it was getting to cold we went indoors and played Apples to Apples and there was 17 people playing it. It was by far the largest group I have seen playing this game. We had fun playing and realised that the international players were winning! Andrei and I were leading and eventually we won! So funny! When the game was over, Glenn dropped me back to MSU at 11pm. It was a nice evening as I made friends with these kids and I really enjoyed feeling young again, living my youth that I had since past...

On Sunday after church, I attended a Malaysian get together organised by fellow Malaysian in MSU. Through this meeting, I finally met all the Malaysians that are studying here. There are 6 of us. As typical Malaysian, when we meet, we eat. We had steamboat which I had not have for a long time and when there was a pot of spicy flavoured soup, I was so happy! It was so long since I had something spicy as there food served at the cafeteria were always not spicy as I was explained to me that Americans have a low tolerance to spicy food. It was so good to have something from home and especially better during this cold weather where it warms you right up. Somebody brought mooncake and it just added brighten up my day. Saturday was supposed to be Mid Autumn Festival back home and we would always have mooncake during that festival. I thought I would not have them here but when it was brought out, I was so happy! After we had our fill, we cleared up the room and went home. Although it was only a short gathering but the knowledge of knowing fellow Malaysian are around in campus was kind of comforting. The few hours of being able to speak the language and use terms that others can understand without explaining the meaning was just great.

I then attended a NBA game in the evening. It was free for a few of us exchange students as the offer was sent to us by the international Students Association Graduate Assistant. It was the Minnesota Timberwolves verses the Milwaukee Bucks and it was the pre season game. We went and watched it and it was so cool to be so near the NBA players. They were really GOOD! All the dunking and passing, it was just great. They have performances during half time and that was phenomenal. There little kids break dancing and the best was the performance when 3 people using trampoline to dunk the balls. They were just AWESOME! Unfortunately I could not finish watching the game as the cafeteria would be close by the time the game was over so I had to leave mid way for food. Will try to attend next time and sit for the whole game.

All in all this weekend was a good one but now I have to suffer the consequences of a fun filled weekend. Assignments are piling up and I need to finish them as soon as possible.

Till then...Ciao=)

Glenn's birthday(25/9/09)

It was Glenn's birthday on Friday and Kaori, Maria and I were invited for a dinner party at a pizzaria downtown. We Had 3 14' pizzas-4 cheese, Pepperoni and Deli. The 4 cheese was the best=) kaori and I gave Glenn a card and a pack of snikers. Maria gave him a card. We all ate till we were full.

After dinner they drovw us to their house and MAN was their house HUGE!!! It has a backyard of a football field and it was behind a soy bean field. Aaron showed me the brick circle he was building. IT WAS A HUGE HOUSE and they only go it for $250000!!! cheap rite.

We went into the house and played ping pong at the basement. They even have a drum set in the basement. SO COOL. While waiting for Glenn to come back from getting ice cream, Aaron and I played WII while the girls played with the cat. Ann brought in the cake which she baked by herself and it was spelled DAD hahaha

We sang happy birthday to Glenn when he came back. Later we played a game called Apples to Apples. It was great fun=) We had a little family time in the living room later and we just chilled. Bullied Aaron for a while=) and then we called it a night at 10pm. Glenn drove us home.

On my way to my room, I realised that I left my keys at their house so i had to call Glenn at their home and they helped me find it. It was at the basement by the ping pong table. Glenn drove all the way back to Crawford to give it back to me. So touched and paiseh...

And that was basically my weekend. Wasn't a very exciting one this week. Hopefully it will pick up the next.

Till then...ciao!

I WON!!! I WON!!!!

Today was such an AWESOME day taht I have to blog about it!!!! I went to St Peter Regional Treatment Centre for community service and ended up with so much more. There was a Diversity Event held by the St Peter Regional Treatment Centre and Sully, Isabel and I went for it. We had to bring things from our home country to promote our country to the inmates. We were there since 10am and Karla and Bert, the representatives from the Centre brought us to St Peter. I was excited as it was my first trip out of Mankato. We reached the Centre and set up our tables and started sharing with everybody that came by. It was fun. We talked for hours. Although the inmates were all classified as mentally ill and dangerous, the people that came were quite fun to be with. They were very engaging and asked a lot of interesting questions. Now I know how the Tourism board people feel when they go around the world promoting Malaysia in exhibitions. After the event, Bert took us around St Peter and when she heard that we have not seen an apple tree before, she drove us to a staff member’s house name Catherine who had an apple tree in her yard. We had fun and I got to pick my first apple from an apple tree=) After that Bert drove us back to Mankato. It was a short but fun trip and I was so thankful that Bert brought us around without us asking. That was so hospitable of them.

later after dinner, there was Fire Dance in the field in front of the Performance Art Theatre. It started at 8pm. Went there with Nanayah, Nargiza, Lennard and Sully. We saw the performance and it was GOOD! The girls were hot but the guys were not...LOL...love the performance though. Had so much fun with the stuff that they laid out for us to play with and we even got to play the drums for the event=) came back to the dorm at 9.30 and met Mike and the gang in the lounge and they told me that the Study Buck draw was at 10pm later. Went to my room and took my bucks and went down to the lobby to see what was there. Prize 1 was a free T-shirt and some candies. Prize 2 (which was what Mike and the rest was aiming for) was a box of PopCorn and some chick flick and Prize 3 was DVD of season 4 of Entourage. I wanted a free T shirt and so I put my bucks into the 1st jar. When the draw started, low and behold, I WON!!!! so now I have a free T-shirt and a lot of candy. Gave Mike and the rest some but i took the sniker bars and 100 grand chocolates=)So happy!!!

So that in short concludes my day today. So happy! It was a GOOD DAY!!!=)

Till then...CIAO=)

18-23/8/09 My First week

Its has been a week since I first came here and so far things have been ok with a little kicks here and there.

Orienntation was actually enjoyable and fun. The people were nice, even the Peer Mentors(PMs la). Best part was they were all International students from all over the world. Meet all sorts of ppl, from Costa Rica, Nicaragua, China, Utophia, Uganda, South Africa, Serbia, Austria, Khazastan and many, many more...

The food here has alot of fried and cheese stuff, not that I'm complaining. But I feel its quite unhealthy without vege cause the only thing they hv for vege is a salad bar. BUT i'm enjoying my macoronni and cheese so YEPPIE!!!

The weather here is wack I tell u. When I first arrived, temp was around 17'C even at night but within a week, it went down to like 12'C. CRAZY MAN!!! Thank God for water heathers or not I wont mandi at all man.

Currently the only thing I dun quite like is my roommate. Name's Bati (Essense,LOL) and he is From Utopia. He is nice and all but the thing I dun quite like his gang. They are quite loud and they like 2 gather in the room to talk and with 4 /5 of them talking at the same time, it's VERY LOUD!!! The things they talk abt are also just in the circle and I hv no clue so I get ignored. So I'm stuck at my little corner, on9ing. The worst part is, he asked me (politely la of course) 2 exchange room with his best friend so that he can room with him but the problem is I hv 2 change my address and the paperwork is too much of a hassle. So he said he might ask the other guy to move here. We'll C how it goes. Frankly if it was not the paperwork, I would LOVE to move cause I dun wanna b in a room where the other person doesn't want me there. Y I always kena so much drama 1!? Sigh...

Went to the Steele County Fair at Owatona (1 hour drive by bus from Mankato) yesterday and it was FUN!!!. Had my first corndog, Watched my first Pig Race and My first demolision car derby. IT WAS SOOOO CCCOOOLLLLL!!! Touched a pig and the american pigs are HUGE!!! Everything here is huge, their houses, horses, rabbits,cattle, pigs, every single 1 of them=) Visited a Village of Yesteryear and saw a lot of stuff. C all pictures at FB k. I lazy 2 upload them here again.

Well class starts today so we'll c how it goes. Taking 15 credits this sem, the most so far from the ppl i know but we'll c how it goes. I have no classes on friday ( I ARRAGED IT THAT WAY HEHE) and class only starts from 12pm so yeah!!!

Take care now. Ciao=)

I'm still here!!! Alive and Kicking..,

I know I know its been a while since i last updated my blog but then again. A lot have been happening to me for the past week so here goes.

After finnaly completing my medical stuff i went down 2 KL on tuesday. Reached PJ and rested. Nothing exciting happened la...

Then came Wednesday when YR and I went to hand up our Medical+Visa stuff to Miss Kalis and as she sat there going through our details. She cleared YR and mine and just as she looked through my passport, she said i do not have enough 6 months left after i come in May. So i hv 2 renew my passport even B4 it expired. SUCKY!!! 300 just flew off the window. sigh. but it was fast. I did it at 11.30am and was told that i can pick it up by 1.30pm. Thats like 2 hours and its done wei=D Malaysia has really improved=D

Picked up the passport and had 2 redo the visa application again so hv 2 go all thw way 2 the office and do and my my does technology hate me! I filled in the form 3 times and the next screen that came put was 'SERVICE UNAVAILABLE'. Frastrated, i ask YR 2 do it and she pass wif only 1 TRY!!!! stupid technology.

The next day saw everybody in HM A5-1 coming back. Jinni reached 1st the came Rachel and then we told that Hugh wanted us the babysit his GF at Midvalley till he arrives at 10pm. We did just that and came home 2 find that there were 12 ppl going 2 crash in our place that night. That night A5-1 really felt like a shelter home for the homeless..LOL

Went for the Teaching Practise workshop on Friday=D Glad for Jinni and Rachel that they got YR and my place at CHS. All things worked out la in the end. Took an incomplete class photo but what the hack, all the ppl that mattered to me were there(except Jinni and Rachel who was in school...sigh). Spent the night at Sze and the gang's new place. Went shopping b4 that and man did i realise i was really and old man and a potential father figure....is that a good thing or a bad thing? u decide=D

Saturday was cool. Had fun at the bazaar at KLPac. I so should have bought the feather hairband wif Grace!!! regret regret...LOL

Went to Sze's church on sunday and finally met the Yap's as a family. Uncle David was fun and Aunty Jenny was cool. We went 2 Ijok for dinner and everybody was staring at us like we were aliens or exhabits just because we were the most multi-racial table around. When la will the Rakyat stop doing that and accept that this is Malaysia and move on...All that aside, the food was GGGOOOOODDD!!! hehe

Went 2 Sri Aman on monday and man were the girls quick at spotting trainees. As soon as we walk in only they were like:' Look new Trainee teachers!!" WOW those hounds can really smell fresh blood man!!! LOL...Met other trainees in Sri Aman and found that they have a room specially for trainess only. Its like staying in your face: "Ur not good enough for the staff room!!"...scary...well i have another year till that becomes my problem. hehe.Good luck girls and take care. GOD SPEED!!!=D

Staying over at The girls new place was FUN!!! they have hot showers and TV and sofa couch which i dun hv back in PJ. I was so comfortable there that i started claiming all those as mine. HEHE..sorry la Sze=D

I reach Pg at 6 something. was so tired but had a family makan togeher b4 Daddy flew off 2 Melaka=D

So thats my adventure for the week. Too long 2 go into every detail but hey thats another story rite?

Till then. Ciao=D

HaPPY BirthDay RACHEL!!!

As i now write this, there are still piling assignments to be completed and presentations to be presented tomorrow but i'm typing a post for a reasons i do not know y..haha

Celebrated Rachel's Birthday today at chili's with Jinni, Hugh and Ling Sii. Had lamb and nachos and bottomless drinks. After the whole thing, we even had cake from Secret Recipe, Tiramisu and Hazel indulgence. The waiter(whom the girls thought was super cute:P)name was Sudan and he was very helpful. He had initaitive and helped us to take a picture without us asking at all. All i needed to do was to stand up with the camera and asked everyone to sit closer and he just came and said "Sir let me help u" So nice of him. The girls gave him a super polished remark in the comment card and he was happy and smiling when he saw what was written in it. When shopping after that for awhile even though we all had assignments to do. Ah...college years:P



The picture that Sudan took for us:)

I'm sitting in the living room of my apartmen with the smell of rotten egg. Someone had kept eggs till they are rotten and now the whole place smell like the black ink for chinese caligraphy. stinky but anyways...

Have to get back to work. Ciao...

109/120

TOEFL score is out today and I got 109/120!!!!! lost by 11 marks but what the heck, it's still good! was super happy when Yeong Ru called to tell my marks and i just bertambah semangat untuk bekerja. I think i got a lot o numbers today but who cares, if i get US, hang the jobs wei! muahahahahaa!!!!

Am still over the moon rite now and i wanna celebrate but got no money but its ok, cause I got 109/120! hehe

Going to spent my valentines with the woman who loves to cook and feed me everytime she gets the chance- MY GRANDMA!



That's my Grandma!:P

She's coming to KL today and cause I got work till friday, I'll be meeting her on saturday/Valentine's day, so cool rite! I really miss her cooking cause KL food sucks!!!!!

Thats it for now folks, Till we meet again with better news!Ciao....

Its too much....

I'm spending too much these past 2 days...and most of it is on food. Why must food be so expensive wan? Cannot accept la. I'm spending most of my money that I told myself I must stary saving but it's not happening.

For the past 2 days(thursday and Friday), I have been going out with the gang from Midvalley to Sunway and even to Nichii Warehouse sale at Cheras. Spending money on clothes and books are one thing but food expenses all around are high as well and as a common known fact, I eat..A LOT, so how do I keep myself from spending too much will be beyond me, especially when it's meal times. The makan areas at these places all cost 10 bucks and above, so exp wei! sigh....I can't just not eat or I'll slowly turn into specs of dust...literary:P

Oh well...guess I'll just have to suck it up and move on. Will be going out again with Yoong Lin and the Desa Persona gang later. Hopefully I wouldn't spend too much.

GOT TO STOP SPENDING!!!( I contridict myself, don't I?):P

Day 12- Assignment day

Its actually quite late now and i'm very tired so this is goona be a shrt post.

Went to class and typed out assignment. after 2 hours forgot that i retrieved my outline through email. safe nothing so lost 2 hours of work. had to redo.

Planned what we want to eat for tomorrow. Its gonna be yummy. lamp shank and steak
and scallops oh its gonna be good.

Went to class and saw an italian dude that looks like Peter Petrelli form Heroes. He's features are so similar. couldn;t help to take his pic. haha

Went back home. help prepare dinner and met Fran's friends who came by for a visit. while waiting i took the opportunity to learn a little french from Lenny. Hope it
will help in future.

Tried to talk 2 dad on msn and skype but home internet got problems. Money running low. Hope i'll survive.

PCOP: The wine from Perth is good, strong but good. had some for dinner. People sleep early too after wine. guess just tipsy a little bit after that.

Ok. Wanna sleep d. tomorrow is graduation!I dun wanna leave. Rosemary is just so good. ciao!

Day 10-Osyters!

Sorry guys, didn't put in anypost yesterday as was too tired to enter an entry.

After class wanted to have Osyters for tea as was convinced by Shobee and Yeong ru that there was cheap osyters along the way home. So we took the bus down all the way down Sterling Highway and was told that the Osyter Bar was just along the road after my stop at Mosman Park.

So we took the bus all the way pass my place and still no bar. we thought we missed it so we went all the way up again to UWA again. Since there was none along the way up, we decided to go all the way to Fremantle to see if its along the way. By that time Stephen and I was hungry as we had a sandwich to share for lunch. In the end, we reach Fremantle Railway Station and still no osyters. So hungry that we decided to go to Cisarellos for them instead. Ordered half dozen of raw osyters and another half dozen of Oysters Kipland and it costed us AUD$28. Thats 3 oysters each that costs us AUD$7 per person. Super expensive wei but what to do, sudah order so makan jah la.

Stephen then insisted that we go makan Nachos a Mexican Kitchen(a Mexican restaurant) where they have Nachos on half price from 6-7pm on Tuesdays. Shobee was reluctant as she tried that before and said not nice. We decided to ditch her as she ordered her garlic bread. the three of us then went and were lost a little while until we found the place. Ordered a Chicken with some sause Nachos which was AUD$24 but because of half price it was only 12 and divided by 3 it was only 4 per person. when the Nachos came, It was HUGE! we shared and turned out, the 1 that i ordered was good. Even Shobee who joined us said good choice.

We then left and walked all the way from Fremantle back to Shobee and Yeong Ru's place at North Fremantle. We crossed the Fremantle bridge and took our own sweet time as we were told that there were dolphins spotted there b4 and we wanted to see 1. We were talking about it and taking pictures when I saw a dolphin swimming just underneath the bridge. I called out and Stephen saw it too. It swam away so fast that only the 2 of us saw it. Shobee and Yeong Ru were so jealous. Haha

Went we reach Bob and Sharon's/Shobee and Yeong Ru's place, sharon had her neighbour were talking on the dinner table. We were told then that Osyter place was actually the other side of fremantle and not in Fremantle and on Tuesdays it had an offer of AUD$12 for a bowl osyters that were more than a dozen. So sakit hati. haha

We then did our research for our trip and now we have lots of problems. There not enough time, money and other stuff. Oh i don;t know how we are going to do it but i just hope it will be fine.

PCOP: The day is so long here, i sometimes feel weird eating dinner at 7pm and the sun is still haven't set yet. I hope it will not be weird next time when i'm back in malaysia.

OK now. Take care. Ciao!