This is cool!

1 x 8 + 1 = 9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111

9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

And brilliance of symmetry...great way to remember the times table below:
1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321

Please pray for my grandfather

I was sleeping when my dad rang me on my mobile close to midnight 2 nights ago. First time in long time sleeping this early too. I hadn't spoken to him in awhile and honestly, i don't exactly enjoy speaking to him because he always talks about the same things. It's the way our relationship has been like as I've grown up, I suppose. But you know, I felt so rebuked as I was talking to him. Really felt how selfish I was to not regularly check up on how my family is back home, or how things are. Imagine this, in one week, we ourselves could accomplish so many things. If I don't speak to one family member in one week, i don't know a whole heap of stuff of what's happening in their lives. And I haven't spoken to them in maybe a month or something.

And so, my dad has recently returned from the US on this trip he went to with his biker friends....and I didn't even realise that he had gone!!!!!!!!! and when he mentioned it, i remembered he had told me at the beginning of the year and maybe a couple of months back.

And the worst news, my dad tells me Dr. Annuar called him to return earlier than planned because of Ah Kong (my paternal grandfather). Ah Kong went for an operation last Monday and i only knew that coz...my cousin told me on MSN. And he said the op went okay, so no need to worry and i didn't. So, I knew nothing else till my dad called 2 nights ago to say that Ah Kong is going for another op on Tuesday (yesterday). And the day after he had his first op, he had a stroke, his heart stopped and his kidney failed and he was placed in the ICU. And he has to go for a 2nd op coz his intestines are tangled up somewhere which is affecting his kidneys and his ability to pass motion.

Geez...

I called home yesterday evening but only Fe Che was home and she told me even more stuff, not so much the technical stuff, but how Ah Kong is, and how he was crying that he would not see yungyunghwahwa before he dies, that he is getting old, that everyone was at the hospital so so worried, stuff that happened when daddy was still away, the amount of tubes sticking out of his body, ....just stuff that made me so so sad.

My brother, Ching Yung then called my dad up. He was at the hospital and he said the op went okay, so my brother told me no need to worry. No need to worry for now, but will he still be alive when I actually go home to Malaysia, whenever that is before March?

My brother, Ching Hwa scanned these old photos in (He actually made an album out of the old photos my grandma gave us - not e-album!). My dad is the younger boy in the pic above. I love looking at these old pictures, especially the way my bro laid them out in the album. I see my dad smiling, with little bricks and other things in this little wheelbarrow thing he's holding and it makes me appreciate my dad more. I think my granddad was quite good-looking then? don't u think? I actually think both my grandfathers were pretty good-looking. hahah

Anyway, Yungyung has FINALLY gotten his PR application approved - whoopie!! He got notified by email last night. Mine is getting there...almost but not there yet. Coz we're on different PR visa types, I've got to do more stuff - my aunt actually, who's so kind to go through this hassle with me. My friend who is in the same boat as me, said her agent told her that my aunt goes for the interview next week, it'll take another month to assess everything!!!!

...and he bought a ticket today to go home on the same day as my other brother -- NEXT THURSDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

what am i supposed to do by myself????????? makes me want to go home too

both my brothers will be going to China anyway maybe in Sept/Oct...CY won this trip to CHina for 2 from these shares he has which my dad set up under his name....or something like that. Don't know nothing else. But he's also going back coz of Ah Kong and all that.

Also, haven't found a suitable place to move out yet. Can we move out before next Thursday?

anyways..

really wonder sometimes why i'm sticking around in Australia

....

My Malaysian neighbour directly above me is leaving on a 2-month holiday to China, Malaysia, Singapore and I'm not sure where else. The whole family is going: parents and 2 kids around my age. Holiday plus it's the parents' wedding anniversary. Aunty is always so nice to us. I met her when my brother and I came to check out this place for the first time more than 2 years ago. She frequently brings us food like sandwiches, baguettes, bread rolls from the cafe where she works at. I'm still not tired of them, saves us from the hassle of cooking or preparing something to eat. Haven't told her that when she gets back, we'll probably not going to be here anymore, but i'll leave a note under her door.

Anyway, at the moment, i feel like that life is pretty stagnant, especially after the exciting trip to Taiwan. I kinda feel directionless now, i don't know. At work in the lab, my friends (same position), we're either joking, laughing or talking serious stuff ie. we need to get out of this job and find a new one!! That's only coz we both have a degree, and he has a masters degree. Impatience impatience ...i feel it brewing. But then, the more impatient i feel, the more something doesn't come usually. And office politics, it's everywhere...something is so wrong with this world. Sometimes i realise how negative i can be when I speak, even at home. It feels good to let someone know how i truly feel but then later on, i wish i hadn't been so negative. Anyway, there are so many things to be thankful for at work, so I'm glad to be there.

anyway enough writing for now....i might go watch a taiwanese drama series later. One of the things I'm doing to keep up my Mandarin =) When I came back, i had dinner with 3 groups of friends (Bible study group, New College and chinese-speaking coursemates) and mannn....they all started speakng mandarin to me and laughing at me, esp my college and uni mates. One of my coursemates said that he's not going to speak in English to me anymore and he really didn't....haiizz...good for me i suppose.

haha...

good nite

we're moving out soon

Firstly, one of my brothers is going home to M'sia at the end of the month for sure, the other will be with me as we wait and wait.....and wait...as to whether we will be permanent residents of Australia. And then he'll leave me. So, don't really wanna live in this 2-bedroom place by myself.

Secondly, had an argument with the lady downstairs a couple of nights ago. Stupid woman started banging on our door and shouting like a crazy psycho coz all 3 of us took a shower that night after 12 am. My brother and I actually raised our voices ...we never used to shout when we talked back to her before but this time, we couldn't stand it anymore. She freaking hears everything we do coz she lives on the first floor (and as she puts it, the driveway is below her unit and so the sounds echo back). I just slammed the door back at her after i asked if she was finished with all her shouting.

anyway, we'll try not to shower after midnight anymore but we're definitely getting out of this place. Haven't found one yet but my brother has started looking online. I know my actions are really unloving and i'm probably going to regret even talking bad about her here, but at the moment, i don't give a rat's ass.

First day back at work

I started work in the lab again today. Early morning starts again...ahhhh...and my 2nd bus at 8.01 am was late which made me late to work but anyway, it was really great to see my workmates again!! Simple acts of friendliness and smiles can go a long way - it warms my heart just to get to know these people better. No matter where we go, we meet different people, whoever they are, with their own story to tell. Even you...yes you, you reading my blog now!!Anyway, If I ever had to leave, i'll find it hard-pressed. I'm not sure about the outcome of the job interview yet but found out i've got one of my coursemates working there too!!

Been feeling so lazy, the weather is making my bones and skin wither away like an old granny. hahha...

Back in Sydney again!

Now that I'm back, there are some things to sort out....work, i've got another job interview on wednesday, coming accommodation plans, brothers might be leaving etc etc...

Came back this morning and unpacked most of my stuff but I've been sleeping all day. And it's raining....rain, rain, rain...cold and wet. I prefer it hot hot hot!!

I miss Taiwan :(
I was really getting used to life there. I don't really want to be back. But ...it was not hard to adjust back...just lingering sentimental feelings, you know.

Next, just focus on the next part of life.

Taiwan - 4

It's my last night here in Taiwan =( July22, Saturday night as I write this.

so quick quick quick!!!

I've really really enjoyed my time here in Taiwan, it's like another part of my life, another short phase. And I really like it how it was not just a holiday and seeing a whole new place and all, but I got to learn Mandarin and other Taiwanese culture stuff and also develop new friendships. I wished I could have stayed another week or a few more weeks or something. But reality is, money will run out here and back in Sydney.

I should be really thankful for this opportunity. At the moment, my heart feels a bit heavy....sounds a bit off-key, but anyway, i don't know how else to describe it. Not the fact that I won't be in this room anymore tomorrow night at this time. Our calligraphy teacher and her husband took us to her mom's place an hour away out of Taipei today and we had so much fun there singing Karaoke and going out to see the lotus flowers and crabs and then coming back to have a great dinner her brother prepared for us. It was fantastic. I wanted to go meet my friend as well in the evening coz she was going to show me where she volunteers every Saturday evening at an Internet helpline centre. I really really really wanted to go see it. Thought I would have enough time, but no, there wasn't. Hopefully, I can see my friend tomorrow. She's my coursemate's best friend and she has been so nice and so patient with me, she's like a great big sister. I've met up with her every week! Learnt so much from her, not just coz we have to communicate in mandarin but from who she is and her life and work. Yesterday, she took me up to see the university she went to, which is up the mountains and to have dinner around that area and then followed her to pick her brother up. Her brother is autistic and she is truly such a good sister. She's also a social worker with kids and she studied Chinese culture as well, so she's really good at Chinese. She explains so well and patiently in Mandarin when I keep on asking her my questions in my childish mandarin way - what is this, what is that, what do u mean...sometimes using wrong tones. And she listens when i try my best to tell her a whole heap of things that I've been up to and experienced in Taiwan and other things. I decided the only way to improve was to keep on finding things to say and ask and to listen and at the same time, to study my Mandarin textbook to improve my vocabulary! I'm still pretty crap.

So, yeah i wished I could have gone to see her voluntary work thing. But being in my room now, with my roommate having left yesterday (I really enjoyed spending time with her too), had some negative thoughts forming in my head, 100% non-Taiwan related. Stupid feelings that make me feel like my life is worthless to some people and other stupid stuff. I try to think about stuff my really "whatever" friend told me or when I meet some people and the kind of people they are. Even like, my Taiwanese friend's workmate who is so friendly and talkative and funny! She taught me while we were on the MRT on how the Chinese Bible she has (New Testament) works. I've kinda forgotten most of the things she told me now. I've been going to this Catholic church on-campus (it's a catholic uni) - to the Mandarin service at 8.30 am. And I was so lost until I met these Vietnamese people and got off a pinyin sheet of them, and then I improved a little in my understanding. Spent one night going through the dictionary and the sheet - but I still haven't finished going through it personally.

Anyway, writing here makes me feel a bit better now. Hmm....wondering what I should do now. I still haven't started packing all my junk. Maybe I should finish watching this Mandarin-dubbed HK Andy Lau movie? That'll take awhile. Write some thank you notes perhaps. Think what I'm going to do tomorrow - last minute stuff especially.

It's also half past one in the morning and I want to wake up for my last church service tomorrow.

Ok i'm outta here...

Taiwan - 3

sighh....the typhoon hardly even hit Taipei today. That's what I think.

So, we had class. It was raining on and off all day but nothing exciting or anything.

So, in the afternoon a couple of hours after lunch, some of us caught the bus and MRT to the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. He's one of Taiwan's past great leaders. It was raining unfortunately but we had a good time and managed to catch the guards marching in front of his huge statue figure. About 6 guards, all in sync, and so skillful (for eg. twirling their rifles with just one hand).

Chiang Khai-Shek Memorial Hall

Inside the Hall

My Taiwanese friends didn't really want to go there with us but of course encouraged us to visit it. To them, it is like what the outside of the Opera House is to locals in Sydney.

Well, after that, we went somewhere else to do other stuff.

Yippee- it's the weeekend now!!!! =D I can finally sleep in.

Taiwan - 2

The 台风 (Typhoon) is hitting Taiwan!! And because of that, our field trip to the Eastern part of Taiwan tomorrow and Saturday has been postponed to next week. Coz that's the part that is supposedly being hit first by the typhoon - tonight! I'm really looking forward to going there after hearing how really nice it is from a few Taiwanese people so I really REALLY hope we actually get to go there next week!! Typhoon, please go away!!

My first typhoon experience - but it's probably going to be just raining and the wind howling like it was last night. The rain isn't that heavy and the temperature is not cold. But if it gets worse, then I might not have class tomorrow. That would of course feel like good news to me when I wake up in the morning. But I'd rather the weather be hot hot hot like it was last week coz at least we can go out and do stuff.

Have I mentioned how many dogs there are loitering along the streets? Major street, small street, in the university grounds and even in front of my dormitory building! This dog slowly walks into Watson's (a shop that sells things chemists sell -except the drugs) and sits down on the floor in front of some shelves and goes to sleep. The salesgirl didn't even shoo it out. Wow, dogs are allowed to come in? I think the dog came in for the air-conditioning.

Some stuff we got up to besides our usual Mandarin classes.

We had a couple of days of learning a little bit of chinese calligraphy! Some of us have done it before but it was my first time. I write not that great but it was fun!

Our school took us to the National Palace Museum. It's supposed to be up there with the other top museums in the world like the Louvre in Paris and the museums in London and NYC.

Our calligraphy teacher, who is so nice and outgoing and says funny things, took us out to Danshui which is up north in Taipei, next to the water. She told us "don't stand me up ah!". She brought her husband, whom she told us in class - is "very funny man" and some of her other young young students. They were so nice - treated us to dinner and some other small foods. And we're having another "date" next Saturday just before we leave.

Catherine, me and my roommate, Robyn

Taiwan - 1

It's the ending of my 4th day in Taiwan, 2nd out of 15 days of Mandarin classes. Feels like I've been here awhile because I think I've done a number of things and hanging out with my other study tour mates has been so great. There are 9 of us, actually 10 but the guy flew home yesterday. I hope he's really okay. I sat next to him on the plane and I never thought it would turn out like this.

Mandarin skills are improving slowly I suppose. It was a struggle talking about technical stuff....like whether it is better to buy a SIM card or phone card? what are the options? I even went to the catholic church service on Sunday coz I wanted to walk around the campus and see what it was like. Attended the 8.30 am Mandarin service. I didn't realise till later that there would be English services after that! It was a good experience even though I didn't understand most of what was being said except when we read in their bible "and Jesus said" and bits of the eucharist. Thank God for this nice girl whom I sat next to even though I was trying my best to understand her.

I hate the traffic here. Scooters and motorcycles are crazy and tooooo many. Like swarms of flies on the road. The cars and other vehicles don't even follow the road lines even in busy parts of Taipei. Malaysian driving is crazy but definitely not as crazy as this. I nearly got knocked down by this motorbike as I was getting off the bus as I didn't look left. The motorcyclist called me some name but I couldn't hear it. But then the next day I realised that that stupid man was coming in the opposite direction to oncoming traffic!! (If u didn't know, people drive on the right hand side here)

Ok i'm not mad even though I may appear to be from the way I write. I'm really having a great time!! My brain is a bit tired now....just studied quite a bit. Write more next time.

And yeah, it's true about the toilets. And there is no toilet paper!! Just like Malaysia I suppose. I'm getting used to it.

Taipei 101 (current tallest building in the world)

Just checking out some facts about Taiwan

Check out these facts about Taiwan courtesy from www.lonelyplanet.com.

Population (and land area in brackets):

Taiwan: 22.5 mil (35,563 sq km)

Australia : 19.5 mil (7,680,000 sq km)

Malaysia: 23 mil (329,750 sq km)

Woww...Taiwan really has a lot of people, huh?

My friend told me something about Taiwanese toilets which I found pretty disgusting. You can't throw the toilet paper you've used into the toilet bowl. Instead there's a bin next to the toilet bowl where you can. Reason? Something to do with the inability of the toilet system to flush the toilet paper down. Could clog the system.

*eww* Let's see if this is true.

Almost 2 weeks since I started the lab job..

It's been a week filled with a mixture of emotions. And I feel pretty tired and a little sick. I woke up early one morning just to throw up and I had a bit of diarrhoea later on. It was weird. I have no idea why because I didn't even bother losing my sleep over the World Cup.

JX, little brother in our bible study group...had to fly home to Malaysia all of a sudden and defer 6 exams. He even deferred an exam he was going to sit for in 45 minutes. His mum has been admitted into the ICU and is semi-conscious. She had to undergo chemo last year but it seems now, her condition has become worse. I was feeling kinda down that day but after reading JX's email, I can't compare at all to what JX must be going through.

On a happier note.....guess what? I am going to Taiwan this Saturday!! for 3 weeks. It's a study tour kinda thing. To study intensive Mandarin. Actually, I haven't mentally prepared myself to the fact that I am even going. Just made my mind up recently, that's why.

wooo hooo!! a little excited though to be getting out of normalcy for awhile.

Just an update on my job progress

Dear friends,

I'm going to be starting work as a laboratory technician at this flavour and ingredients company. It's a casual job, which means no benefits and not having to come in every weekday. But i'll be working every weekday for 2 weeks to start off commencing next Tuesday. It's actually a simple job, not requiring the academic qualifications I have....and I'll actually be assisting the food technologists in preparing the product samples they need (If you didn't know, I did a bachelor degree in Food Technology, so actually, i prefer their job). In the interview, he was telling me he's looking for someone who would be staying for awhile and not leave after a few months, all the hassles of conducting interviews and training....and I'm like uh huh...okay..... but honestly, of course I don't want to stay like that for too long. Anyway, it's going to be a good opportunity and experience to just learn from the people around me for sure. Being able to learn from my food technologist colleagues without the responsibilities they have.

When people ask me what I'm doing now, I've got a pretty standard answer. Ask me if you want to know what it is.

So saying that, I guess I'm pretty happy at the moment to be finally getting a job in the food industry! (And I don't mean retail or restaurants). Finally.....! something related to my degree. And I can modify my standard answer now :D

Many thanks to a friend of mine who's working there.

Book Review

Title: A Spectator's Guide to World Religions

Author: John Dickson

Publisher: Blue Bottle Books

In this book, John Dickson presents the current big 5 religions in the world: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. He provides a fair and comprehensive account of the history, belief systems and spiritual practices of each religion from their own perspective in very clear and simple English.

I have actually just finished reading this book which belongs to my Korean friend, Hyunju Kim. She actually thinks it's a very good book and so do I!! This book gives a very good foundational understanding of what each religion is about as believed by the believers of each religion.

I was captured by the way the story of each religion unfolded in the course of history. Take for example, when I was reading about Islam. If you've been schooled in the Malaysian Education System, you would know that we had to learn a lot about Islamic history in Form 4. I seriously didn't understand Islam and I still don't understand what it's all about even though I've been brought up in M'sia. Whenever prayers are recited on TV or through the loud PA system from the nearby mosque, I just tuned off.

And about Judaism, the first time I had a deeper understanding about the Jews was when I read a book by Stan Telchin called Betrayed! (This is another really good book but guess it'll have to be saved for another blog entry). I mean, I knew that Jews were brutally prosecuted during the Holocaust and that there's some war going on between Israel and Palestine but those were just... distant facts. Or when I actually visited the Sydney Jewish Museum 1 1/2 years ago. It was interesting history but I was mostly enamoured after meeting these 2 old ladies who are actually survivors of the Holocaust. The other factual stuff displayed just slipped out of my mind even though I tried to read and learn more about Jewish history and customs.

What I'm trying to say is that the clear explanation of how each religion originated and how it progressed and what it's all about provided in this book gave me a richer and clearer understanding. It would be now so much easier to understand where my grandmother is coming from with her Buddhist beliefs for example. And I guess it also helps us when we try to converse with other people with other religions because each religion is so different.

As the book concludes, to remain with the pluralistic idea that all religions are the same but are just different cultural perceptions of the ultimate reality is just an unwillingness to explore each path more deeply. Isn't it easier to just accept 2 different accounts as just being 2 different ways because it's just the path of least effort on our part?

Anyway, this is a really gooooooood booook!!! Need I say more? :)

Random thoughts

Bosses, leaders among us, be it at work, church, uni or wherever...

Sometimes I think they have this level of authority that makes me think they have it all made. They have more knowledge than me, able to handle things better....how can I explain it? They'll be okay in what they do. I just have to listen to them, respect them and that's that. They're somewhat "untouchable".

But sometimes I realise that they're human too and they can go so down and depressed. They may also experience the same stupid relationship or other personal and professional problems. They need support too.

shocked, shocked, shocked...

I just found out today after having a conversation with a friend that our current Prime Minister's wife (Malaysian PM), Datin Seri Endon Mahmood died of breast cancer.

And when did she die? October 2005.

I was so shocked.....

shocked, shocked, shocked.

I can't even remember if my dad mentioned it to me or my mum. If they did, it didn't stick in my head...but something like this would have, so i guess they didn't tell me.

I'm not going to tell my dad this coz he'll ask me why i don't read the newspaper.

Note: read the Malaysian papers online.

Sign up for the 40-Hour Famine!!

What is the 40-Hour Famine?
It is an initiative by World Vision and is a popular annual event to raise funds and awareness in youth. It gets us involved by giving us a taste of what it feels like to go hungry. But it isn't just fasting from food for 40 hours. We can choose to go without anything that matters to us (eg. technology, talking) and then, raise donations for this.

This year's funds raised by World Vision Australia from the Famine will be channeled to East Timor specifically but also to support World Vision's work in Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia and help poor families survive natural disasters like floods, earthquakes and cyclones.

When is the 40-Hour Famine?
World Vision Australia has set it for the weekend of 18-20 August 2006.
(I just realised that other countries have it not at the same time as us - and instead of 40-hours, some have just 30 hours)

What is this about signing up?
Well, the UNSW World Vision Club is running a drive to encourage people to sign up and get involved in the 40-Hour Famine this year!

• When: This week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) 30/5, 31/5 and 1/6
• What time: 11.30- 2pm
• Where: In front of the library .... look out for our banner!

If you sign up with us, you'll get a free gift bag!! (more than a decent amount of nice stuff inside truly) You'll also be given the 40-Hour Famine booklet where you will find information inside on what to do etc..and also where you record amount donated, give receipts to people who have kindly donated and so on. The booklet is important and you will have to give it back to us after the Famine. We're basically doing this as a club and we'll collect all the booklets and donations and give them to World Vision.

For those not at UNSW and those who are but can't make it, tell me if you wanna take part okay? I guess preferably if you are here in Australia, preferably in Sydney. I'll get you a booklet, minus the gift bag (anytime before the Famine starts). We can do it together and spur each other on! Or let me encourage you to sign up by yourself wherever you are. Very easy peasy! Go to the website and follow the instructions. World Vision will mail you the booklet.

Email me if you wanna ask anything :)

This week

It's been a long week! I haven't felt like this in awhile...when last Sunday seemed like ages ago. I worked everyday except Monday when I went all the way to this town called Blacktown which is an hour away by train for something. I had to wake up at "ungodly" hours a lot this week =P (unearthly for me anyway) but ...I really like morning shifts! Leaves the afternoons and nights free which I needed this week. A couple of friends graduated, dinners outside, went for a Christian women's conference (called EQUIP) on Saturday, another dinner where i spent $30 (!!!!) and I think I did my longest bicycle journey ever without stopping, not that I'm going to do it again.

EQUIP was pretty good. I really enjoyed the talks (3 in total) - talks that speak to the heart and challenges the heart to live out the Christian life. I was pretty sleepy during the elective which took place before the talks....shhhh....i feel a bit bad about that....

I felt pretty housewifey this week as well. Cook, clean, wash clothes. I'm trying to be a better sister.

The waiting game

If you'd like to know, my application for Australian Permanent Residency is still pending. It's going okay. I called the immigration office recently and the person I was speaking to said that they were currently looking at e-applications received on Feb 26th. How slow is that? I just lodged mine in before the middle of March. And thinking back, I got back to Sydney from Msia on March 5th or 6th.

Maybe I shouldn't have gone home to Msia at all until my PR thingie was finalised. A batch of people just got their PR application approved 2-3 weeks back after having lodged theirs in at the beginning of the year. But you know, even though this waiting game is taking a bit too long, I'm still glad I went back to Malaysia when I did. Imagine if I just got my PR like these friends of mine recently. Should I then go home now? I think I'd feel like I wished to start full-time work instead and the timing feels a bit off. I feel like I'm in the middle of some life and now I'd have to book a ticket to go home. Going home now would be kinda too late for me compared to earlier.

Anyway, so my brother and I are now waiting..

My brother's graduation today!...and Dor's too!

It was Ching Yung's grad this afternoon. Unfortunately, my other bro couldn't attend it coz he had class from 2-5 pm and he had to do a presentation today but he did come at the end after Yung had returned his gown. Ching Yung doesn't like too many photos and was like, no need lahhh (even to my attending) but today, he didn't mind me taking photos after the initial and occasional no need lahs. Of course I know that his "no need lah" isn't truly a "not important, he doesn't care" kinda 'no need'.....

On the whole, it was a happy happy day! :D

with some of his friends (He goes to UTS by the way --> University of Technology, Sydney)

And a funny coincidence, it was my church friend, Doreen's grad too! that secretive girl.....I didn't know till my brother told me he saw some other of our church friends there. So of course we had to take a photo together! *big smiles*