October Madness!

Okay. A good friend reminded me that I have to update my blog. So much has happened that I don't know where to begin. I guess, maybe for starters, my job?

So, I finally got my hospital posting. Yeay!

The not so "yeay" part about it is that the letter came just a day before I was suppose to report for duty!! Sigh. Some things will never change..

So, with a quick phone call to say I will be reporting a few days late, I was rushing to get everything I could done before leaving my wonderful home in KL to a remote little state way up north, in Perlis.

Yes, Perlis.

I was shocked, but I guess, it's just how life would be for me. Always getting surprises. It reminded me of my mission call too.. then this whole rush to get myself ready to move, reminded me of transfers on my mission. The only difference was that on the mission field, all I needed to do was pack my clothes and things up and go. Along with a lot of tearful good byes, of course. And I have a companion waiting for me so I'm not all by myself. This time, I have to pack my clothes and things, and I also have to find my own place to stay!

Talk about the love the government has for us pharmacists.

So, off Yeanie and I went on our adventure to Perlis.

Everyone of my friends who heard where I was going had the same question, "You sure you don't want to appeal? You think you can survive it there? OMG!" to name a few.

Yes, it's a tiny place, with the biggest shopping place to go is "the Store", but hey.. I'm near to Langkawi and the Thai border. So there could be some adventures for me here no? And, I also found out that the cost of living is super low here. Seriously. Not much entertainment that, from where my room that i'm renting, in this little neighborhood of mine, is a neighbor who sings on her karaoke almost every night! And my land lady is filling her time with singing lessons for her karaoke performance someday. :)

The hospital is THE only hospital for this whole state, therefore it covers for Perlis and the northern part of Kedah. It does get quite busy.

My first week left me with extremely tired legs from standing so much. Then the schedule was made and right now.. I am in the clinical pharmacy department, my most favorite. It's a lot of work and I think one of the toughest attachment because it's all about your knowledge, but I like it because I get to learn more. And I get to interact more with the patients. My favorite part! The only sad thing is that I have homework to do every single night and I am still not that smart enough to have all the clinical knowledge at my fingertips. :( Why can't I be like a super sponge? Gaah.

So, that's my life in a nutshell at this point. I do have more stories to tell.. and you'd think with a place like this, which has very little distraction, I could do better at updating my blog. Sigh. Hehe.

I do miss the hustle and bustle of KL though, but here, it takes only 10 mins to get to work, and there's no traffic jams. :D

Now, that's the way.. aha aha.. i like it.. aha aha.. ;)

September Fun : New Baby & SkyTrex

Gah.. I slacked again. Today, I figured, I need to write something before September ends, and maybe do better from October onwards? Heh.

So, I'm still doing my temp job which turned out to challenge my organization and administration skills more than my medical knowledge, which is fine. But seeing how obsessed I can get at doing some of the tasks, I'm suffering from quite a back ache, more so shoulder aches from sitting in front of the computer from 10 to 7 everyday.

The office I work at is growing a little on me. Not because of how great the work is, but the everyday dramas that just makes it so annoying but funny sometimes.

By now, I figured instead of getting mad with the government for their slow-ness in getting me my posting, I would just enjoy the moment. Maybe I'm needed here for some reason I have no idea about. I just wish I knew what.

I got myself a beautiful new computer which is heavenly to work with. It's amazing how a few years make such a huge impact on the my poor little computer. Everything needs upgrading so frequently so as to not overload your system that it's scary! Pictures, file transfers are getting bigger, thus giving higher quality images and applications, but if your old notebook is like mine, then you will be waiting for quite a while before you can move on to doing other stuff.

Starting up took about 15 minutes, before I can even try and run any applications on my old one. And if I open more applications, the whole thing will just hang there for maybe 20 minutes, before I can do anything. I either wait or just try shutting it down and restart again, but because it takes about the same time to start up.. why bother? It is still good though and I have this thing about stuffs. I blame it on primary school system, where we were told to write essays about what would life be like if you were, say.. a pen, a bag, a shoe.. or whatever it is.

I think it's to teach us the value of things but really, for kids like me, I began to believe that every innate objects are very much alive like us!! I even thought they'd come alive when we are all asleep at night. Which of course led to years of fearing the dark because I don't want any of those things in the house coming up to try and strike a conversation with me!

Yes, I have quite an imagination.. and I still do now.

So anyways..yeay and blah for technology. :)

Oh, and I have to talk about my most recent exciting adventure last Saturday. There's this thing call Sky Trex in Shah Alam. I don't know if it started after my mission, because if it didn't I'm so mad that I didn't know about it earlier. It was so popular that you have to make booking a few weeks to a month in advance. Crazy! I figured, it's been too long since my crazy adventures in Outward Bound School that I must go.

The group was a fun albeit interesting bunch, but they were great sport in wanting to do this in the first place. By the end of the whole thing (which took almost 2 hours).. a lot of them said, "it was a good once in a life time experience" and I was like, come on! That was way fun and I am so going to come back!!

I met JQ there, who just got done with the more extreme trail and with his shirt all dirty from their adventure, I was like.. I want thaaat...

Here are some pictures:

The group i was with.. entering..

Us with our "v-strings"...

One of our many stunts that we had to do. Very very fun.

The Name Tag

I miss my mission.

I really do. I miss everything about it. I miss my companions, I miss tracting, I miss meeting people, I miss visiting members and investigators, I miss teaching lessons, and I miss wearing my name tag.

I just remembered I had to prepare a lesson this Sunday, in Relief Society and reading talks and everything just reminded me the feeling that I had being on a mission. The feel good feeling of reading something inspiring and uplifting to deal with challenges we faced.

I have just started working temporarily, to fill the time until I get news about my posting.. (yes, I am still waiting. And yes, it's the government handling it. And yes, I am wasting a way. ) The job is pretty routine but the events that happened had been interesting. I was sick for the past few days. With the H1N1 thing going rampant in Malaysia, we were advised to treat all flu symptoms like it was the real thing, so isolating yourself is one suggested. So, I did just that and it felt good just to be home and back to the routine of watching movies after movies. I know, I know, not productive.

I have made some wonderful friends there, that I hope, will last for life because of how awesome they are. Anyways, work has never been free from dramas. Work stress and dateline pressures are a norm. Which led to one resigning. I was bummed because I liked her a lot. But before she left, she came to me quietly and ask if she could come to church with me.

On my first day there, we went out for lunch together and we got to talk about the things we did in the past and so my mission came up. I told her what I did and she was curious. The golden question, "What is the difference with all these different churches out there?" I explained and we left it at that. I didn't think she'd think more about it until the day she resign. I was psyched, of course.

On my mission, meeting potentials are fun. I almost always start fantasizing on their progression, which leads to receiving the promised blessings the Lord promises all his children. So, when things turn out differently than I had planned, I was, often enough, crushed.

Today, I went through the same feelings I had felt months earlier. The crushed hopes and dreams for one of Heavenly Father's child. She found out that someone, whom she is not fond of is of the same church. His character in dealing with her was nothing of what the Lord would have us do to his fellow men. And I am ashamed of him for that. Elder Perry said, the members make the image of the church. One is enough to ruin the image and that one, did just that.

Yes, I am upset about this. Only because, I know he could have acted better. I know he could have dealt with the situation better, but he let pride got in the way and ruin it. Ruined it for her, that's for sure.. and I can do nothing about it! It's frustrating. Gaaah.

I miss my mission. I think the tag brings some wonders sometimes to members around us. Just because it not only reminds us missionaries, but also of members around us of who we all represent, when we are out there in the world.

Operation Belladonna

We all know what the effects of belladonna does. Medically used to to dilate your pupils so the ophthalmologist can look deep into your soul and see if you need to be cleanse. NO. To check if you have some internal damage in the eye. Actually the correct term is atropine, derived from the Belladonna plant. Calling it Belladonna gives a better feel to it, don't you think?

The past few weeks, I have been having some weird vision on my left eye. I was seeing things double, lights get diffracted. I don't see halos so that's good but it bugged me. I thought it was the contact lenses so I figured when the new month comes and I change it, it will be ok. But the problem persisted.

Mom, being the worrier that she was, insisted that I go have it check and so we did. For my own peace of mind and hers, since she's going to be going off soon. What will we do without her? Be adults, that's what.

So, got to the eye specialist and she checked everything she could externally and nope.. no problem. So next was to check inside my eye. Needless to say, I came out of there, fully satisfied, my one eye was seeing things in a weird way with pupils dilated to the max but I'm glad to announce that my eye is OK. All it needed was a newer prescription. Sheesh. I could have done that easy. But no, I think it was good to have the inside checked. Because now I know what they do.

I have to say though, the sight of my uneven pupils for the rest of the next few hours is pretty cool. I think it looked like it was out of some scary movie or something. My brother was grossed out by it. :)

I think it's awesome!

Here's a comparison. My normal happy right eye...



.. versus my forlorn looking left eye...


Did you know that a long time ago.. women do this to their eyes because it was considered beautiful to have dilated pupils? Well, beauty came with a price.. because prolong usage cause blindness. High price to pay for that. I'm just glad my eye is ok. *wink wink*

A Non Specific Update.. finally!

Oh my gosh. I know it's been forever since I post, again. I'm such a slacker. Gah!

I have, on several occasion, found interesting things and was like, yeah, I need to put this up but then I procrastinated. Nasty thing, this procrastination business. So, there. The whole truth and nothing but the truth. I need to be better.

So, as of today... things are still pretty much the same. Same on the appearance more but a lot of things going on inside my head. The past few weeks I have been back to my hometown, Miri.. the first thing that caught my attention the moment I left the airport was how clear the skies were in Miri.. less pollution and it was just beautiful blue. The weather, however wasn't that great but it rain a lot for the first few days that I knew it was a blessing because that helped cool the days down a little.. but the humidity is still quite a torture.

I got what I needed done, and basically did a lot of what I was doing back in KL.. watching movies, borrowing more DVDs from friends and eating more. The only additional thing was every now and then, my mom drags me out to go visit a bunch of less active members of the branch. I must say, I don't know if there's anyone else like my Mom. I sometimes think she's crazy for spending hours out there in the heat and humidity, visiting all these members, who mostly have very little and have houses with just a simple zinc roofs. I definitely admire her, although I don't tell her much, because in front of her.. I murmured quite a bit. I know I know.. I am the most worst RM ever. To have done all these on my mission and now I'd rather stay indoors and be a hermit, and come out only at night... just because of the heat. I wonder how long more will it take before I start tolerating this heat. It really does bring out the monster in me.. and I don't like it.

One of the funny things upon arriving in Miri, was to discover that my dear father had taken our old 1985 Mazda 323, which was originally white, and gave it a new paintjob.. to a crazy bright yellow. One that you could not miss even if the car was many miles away!! After pondering a whole lot, trying to figure out what drove my dad to making this.. this ... absurd choice, I came to the conclusion that he had, for some miraculous way, watched Transformers and is wanting a "Bumblebee" of his own. I checked with him about my theory.. and I was wrong! Dang it. It would be a cooler story than the truth, though. Heheh. He just thought it would be nice to paint it with a different color. Car colors in Miri are mostly the regular blacks, whites, greys, dark metallic blue, red.. All these bright colors are often found on fancy sports car.. and ours.. well.. ours just isn't in that category.. although it could.. come to think of it..

Anyways, I am still waiting on my letter from the government to tell me where I am suppose to be posted. Slow process. I am on the way of feeling very contented and please at this laid back life I have right now and am trying to enjoy the moment because I know, after this, I'm not going to have all this time anymore.. but at the same time, with every one around me, working and being busy, I can't help but feel like I could do more. Being a bum amidst all these working friends, can be a little of a downer for me.

Oh well. It will come. I just have to be a little more patient.

I have been doing some swimming since I got back and it really feels good to be in the water. And the other day, I figured I'll try and do some dives I've learnt and I'm proud to announce that I could still a nice little back dive without hurting my body. So, I still got it in me. Woohoo!

Well, here's a photo of a those wooden houses with zinc roofs. One of the squatter areas in Miri.

Scrapbooking/ DVD Mania

So, it’s been 2 weeks since I have written an update. Not having an internet connection at home can be a little inconvenient sometimes. Well, then again, I don’t really have an excuse because I have my notebook at home to use, and I could compose my post first and then upload it online. Ok, so it’s my fault.

Since the last time I wrote, I have been attempting at scrap booking my old college pictures…which hasn’t been going fast and the whole place is a mess. I had no idea how tedious of a work it can be, trying to coordinate the colors, write labels and arranging those pictures. And since that requires me to sit down at one place, I figure I’ll multitask.. so along with an intense scrap booking session almost every day, I have also been popping in old DVDs and watching them.
If anyone ask about my week and if it was productive, I don’t know. Scrap booking seems productive, but I just can’t believe how time consuming it can be. But it’s not like I have any other things to do.

The government hasn’t call me back about my compulsory service for the government hospital. I wonder if it’s because they don’t know what to do with me, having been gone right after I graduated. I should be worried, but I’m not. Yet, it’s not like I have a promising plan B to go for if I were to be given a hard time about my being away.

My adjustment to a slower pace of life is going ok, I guess. I still miss the mission and everything about it. Almost every night, listening to my mission music, gives me a sense of calmness, peace and that I’ll get through another day of life without going crazy from not being in the rigid schedule that I once had.

Enjoy the view of my mess from ... SCRAP BOOKING!

Home Adjustment

Hola Everyone..

First post since I got home from my mission. It feels weird. I know I have writing even before I went on my mission but now it feels like anything I write will not be as exciting as I had it when I was a missionary. It’s weird feeling empty and lost. I don’t feel like my personal study is as amazing as it has been too. I thought I was adjusting well in my post mission life, but then again, maybe not.

The trip home was a long one but I had the opportunity to sit next to a guy who was on his way to Cambodia for vacation. Cool dude who had LDS friends growing up and so he had lots of question on what I did as a missionary. I felt like I’m in my own version of “Labor Of Love.” For those who have not watched it, it’s about a missionary going home from his mission and was in the airplane, sharing his testimony and experience with the guy who sat next to him.

It feels good to be able to share the gospel.

When we reached Malaysia, the humidity hit me hard. I told everyone Malaysia was humid, but I think I have forgotten how crazy humid it can be. I felt like I was going to drown through all my breathing in the moisture. Pooh!

So, I found out I left a lot of more stuff than I had intended to back in Sister Eberle’s home.

My Malaysian ATM cards and money
My brother’s presents
My digital SLR camera

Crap it.

The ATM and present can wait I guess. Since I can request new ones from the bank but my camera… L

Anyways, my last few days over in California had been fun. I had the chance to go to San Diego, Disneyland, and Huntington Beach. So here are some pictures:


Love, Sist.. oops.. I mean, Lian…