Sunday, March 29, 2009

I am going insane!

I hate it.
The study week, the exam week.
Argh.... i am going insane.
No progress... all the same....
everyone in tension, making me more tension.
Worst still kinda giving up.
Exam please come, faster, faster....
I can't stand it anymore.
Argh...............

Ps: seem like fussing out in the blog able to reduce my stress a little.

Still!
continue facing the notes and books.
Sigh.....
The tomorrow face the 1st exam paper.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Rumah Shalom


On Jun 2007, i was in the incovar camp and that was the first time i visited ta orphanage home,the Rumah Shalom,the home for the homeless. With the house theme "Helping the helpless"



On the particular day, i went there with about 20-30 incovarians. The moment i stepped into the house, i saw the kids inside the home were looking at us,hiding themselves behind the wall with a little bit of nervous and scared facial expression. Well, The same thing happened to me, my mind full of thought, thinking what should i do, how should i treat the children..... Questions lingering in my mind, but it laid to rest when we started our programme.



Firstly, we divided each of the kid to each of the incovarian, we i have 1 too, a quite well-behaved little kid. He did not speak much nor participate actively. I was a bit of lost at that moment, I did not know what to do, and just followed what my fellow incovarian did. He was 11 years old, maybe because he is at the growing age, or maybe that was his character, or maybe he has some personal problem. I do know. I wanted to explore his mind, wanted to know what he is thinking, wanted to help him, but i just don't know what to do.


As we carried on with our programme, everyone start enjoying and start to know each other. The first programme was the magic show performed by an incovarian committee. Then we have the performance, where we did the “banana boat” dance lead by Xiao Thoong. After all the performances ended, we proceed with games, where all the incovarians and their “little brothers and sisters” choose games that they wanted to play. Playing with kid was much fun compared to adult. As we played, our mind somehow flashed back to the time when we were small. We were playing games that we played when we were in kindergarten. Dealing with pure and kind children was better than dealing with complicated adult. That was the reason I choose to be in

orphanage house.

Time flew, we left on the afternoon. That was the most touching time. When we just started to build up relationship with the kids, and they started to accept us, that was the time to say good bye. Well, some of the kids and even some of the incovarians cried. The time we spent together was too short. That’s the fact of live.

I heard some of the participants told the kids that they will come again. At that moment, that was a light of hope given to the children. I didn’t tell them that I will be coming back, because, I didn’t want give the children a hope that might not come true, I don’t want to give out empty promises which I can’t keep. I had experienced the suffering, the painfulness of waiting the long pending hopes that never be fulfilled. But at that night, I did make a promise among the incovarian, that we will revisit the home. I will keep my word. I do what I promised.

What I need are helps and supports from my fellow friends.





Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Bab 1 : Kelahiran Budak Jahil

Perhatian: (Cerita yang disiarkan dalam laman ini hanyalah rekaaan semata-mata. Ia direka untuk tantapan pembaca sahaja. Penulis mendapati Bahasa Melayunya semakin merosot dan kali terakhir penulis menulis karangan adalah 5 tahun yang lepas. Hal yang demikian, penulis ingin sekali lagi menulis dalam bahasa kebangsaannya bagi memelihara tahap bahasanya.)

23 tahun lepas, pada 10 Mac tahun 1986, hujan lebat pada malam itu. Awan- awan yang membawa hujan itu menutupi langit, menghalang cahaya bulan daripada menyinari bumi. Jam menunjukkan 11.55 malam, kedengaran si ibu menjerit kesakitan diringi dengan suara tangisan seorang bayi. Malam itu, suatu malam bersejarah, malam di mana lahirnya seorang budak jahil ke muka bumi ini. Kelahiran bayi ini membawa senyuman kepada keluarganya yang sudah kian lama menunggu di depan pintu wad, hospital bersalin. Si bapa menunjukkan reaksi kegembiraan yang tak terhingga, maklumlah anak ini merupakan anak pertamanya. Di sini, bermulanya detik perjalanan hidup seorang budak jahil tanpa mengetahui hala tujunya.


Si budak jahil ini membesar dalam keluarga Tiong Hwa yang besar dengan budaya dan adat Baba nonya. Dalam keluarga bapanya, Si budak jahil mempunyai seorang nenek, seorang datuk, 4 orang pakcik dan 2 makcik. Manakala, keluarga ibunya pula terdiri daripada seorang moyang(ibu kepada datuk), seorang nenek, seorang datuk, 3 makcik dan 4 pakcik. Maklumlah, zaman ibubapanya adalah 1950-an-1960-an.Si budak jahil merupakan cucu ketiga dalam keluarga bapanya dan cucu pertama bagi keuarga ibunya. Oleh yang demikian, Si budak jahil sering dimanja oleh saudaranya terutamanya keluarga ibunya.

Pada masa itu, ibunya bekerja sebagai seorang kerani dan bapanya bekerja di kedai datuknya, sebuah perniagaan keluarga yang telah warisi sejak turun-temurun lagi. Kedainya merupakan kedai yang menjual daun rokok yang dihasilkan melalui daun nipah. Walaupun perniagaan tersebut besar dan meguntungkan, namun gaji yang diperoleh bapanya cumalah RM500 sebulan. Mengapa? Perkataan perniagaan keluarga menjelaskan persoalan ini. Perniagaan ini tidak dimiliki datuk si budak jahil sorang sahaja, ia juga dimiliki oleh adik-adik datuknya.
Pokok Nipah

Daun nipah diperam dan dikeringkan, kemudian di pilih kualitinya dan dipotongrokok daun kemudianya dijual kepada pembuat rokok dan terhasillah rokok yang dijual dalam pasaran

Disebabkan Si budak jahil merupakan generasi keenam sejak moyangnya berpindah ke kawasan ini dari Pulau Pinang. Si budak jahil membesar dalam suatu keluarga yang besar di bawah jagaan neneknya(sebelah bapa) Si budak jahil dibesarkan dengan adat dan peraturan yang ketat tanpa mengetahui pergolakan dalam keluarganya terutama dalam generasi datuknya. Pergolakan dalam merebut harta. Namun, hasil jagaan dan kasih sayang neneknya, si budak jahil membesar dengan sihat.(Disebabkan kedua-dua ibubapanya bekerja, maka si budak kecil ditempatkan di bawah jagaan neneknya.)

Untuk mengetahui sambungan cerita ini, sila ikuti cerita Bab 2: Nenekku
Sekian.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Birthday!

Same like last year, i didn't manage to blow any candle for my birthday. No cake for me, just a simple dinner with some of my housemates in pizza hut on the night before my birthday, and a supper at secret recepi, with one of my coursemate. Nothing special, just like normal dinner, just that i do not need to pocket out any money. LOL! Thank you for the treat.

Somehow, this year, i was kinda content, even though there was no cake for me. Maybe, i already get use to it. In the past, i didn't really celebrate it. Perhaps you can say that i only celebrate it once, during my second year. And that's all. Haha.... Now i remember why i was happy,I actually received more than 70 birthday wishes mostly through facebook and sms, and some from friendster and calls. Well, at least i was still been remembered. it was kinda of surprise when you receive wishes even someone you had lost contact with. Friends from incovar camp, from my formal school,RMC, from my hometown, those who are in Singapore, from my course, from my previous college,KIY, from SD, from Chinese, Indian, Malay, some that close to me, some that far away, people that i know, people that i use to know but forgotten.......blah..blah.....

That was kinda meaningful day for me when i knew that my existence been noticed by people around me. I made wish for my birthday. Perhaps, not even in my thought to wish for something. LOL!that day, i was filled with classes, from morning until night. Whole day class plus the project's report; i don't even have the time to take a break, where on the earth do you think i have the time to enjoy the day, besides that, everyone was busy with their projects and examination.

Well, just turned 23. Seem like time turning so fast. Within a month or maybe lesser, i will start my practical training. Wish the time get a bit slower, so that i can enjoy more.LOL!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Lesson to be Learn 2(FAMILY AFFAIR)!

As a typical Chinese (baba nyonya) in Malaysia, I was binded with taboos, rules, as well the family tree. Baba Nyonya had been few generations in Malaysia, so do my family. Guess i was the 5th or 6th generation in TI(Teluk Intan),since the Chew's family moved here from Penang. Todays, if you walk around TI and bump into someone who is has the surname Chew, that mean he/she has blood related with me. He/she might be one of my distance relative. Therefore, i was grew in the atmosphere where must behave well because there were many eyes looking at you.



I remembered when i was you, during the Chinese New Year, when we visited our relative house, my dad will told us,
" Please greet when you meet someone and remember to behave yourself in others people house."
"If not, next time I won't bring you all out"
That was the standard phrases he uttered out every time we had a visit.

When i was young, i didn't understand why dad was so strict to me compare to my cousins. I always been scolded when i did a minor mistake. At that time, i thought that he hate me, he don't like me.
As time passed, I have grown, and my perception changed, i finally understood the reason. It's not that he hate me, but he love me. Because he knew that when we were in others people house, there were eyes looking for our faults and there were mouth that start talking, and start judging us.

Since my family is such a big family, where everyone is related to you. Here come the conflict part. As i mention before, i am a pleaser. So, i tend to please people who carry the status relative.
Let us for get the past, let me focus on the recent incident.


On the middle of the February, i received a message through Facebook, it was a message from my cousin in New Zeland.

Cousin:Mervin, I will be in Malaysia on the 5th. Will you be in KL or Teluk Intan then?Can you give me your mobile number again please?
(So i checked the calender as well my time table.And then replied him.)

Me:You mean on the March 5th,on Thursday? I will be in KL. And i am having lecture on the
afternoon. My mobile number is +6017-5721882.So you will be back together with you sister?
Cousin:Yes, I will be in KL on the 5th, my plan lands at 2PM. What time does your lecture finish? Will be giving you a call later on in the week or next week.
(He just answer my 1st question)
Me:Around that time. Which airport are you landing?Give a call for further arrangement.

A week later he called me.
Me: Hello!
Cousin:Hello, Mervin, C**** ** here.
Me:Oh yes, so how's you arrangement?
Cousin: I will be back to Malaysia on the 5th, there arrival should be around 2 something. Are you free that time?
Me: I am having class until 2pm. I will probably pick you up by 3pm.
Cousin: That is OK for me.
(Later he continue) By the way, can you please buy be a bus ticket to somewhere to the border
of Thailand.
Me: Let me check the schedule for you later.Meanwhile check which part of Thailand you want
go?
Cousin: OK. I will contact you later, either through phone call or Facebook.

Few days later, on the Facebook

Cousin:Have you managed to look at the bus schedules to Thailand?Looking at google maps, there seems to be a highway (E1?) which leads to the border of Thailand. Goes from KL, past Teluk Intan to Thailand.Would that be the best route to take?

(I was surprise with that message, he didn't even tell me where want to go yey he is asking me which one is the best route)
Me:you still haven't give me the location you wanna to stop. Which part of Thailand border? Which state? Which city/town? Please do inform me.

Few days later one of his friend in Malaysia called me. His name was Albert. Well, i didn't really get any information from him, as if he don't know anything, and all i got was he wanted me to bus a ticket for C**** ** to Hatyai.
At least i know the location for me the check the schedule.

So, i went to Hentian Kajang(A bus station near my Uni) to search for the words Hatyai. And i finally found it. Unfortunately the ticket counter was closed.
So, i went for the second time, luckily it was open.So i asked the lady at the counter. And she told me that ticket can be bought here, but the bus will depart at Puduraya. For Thursday night, the bus will be 10.30pm and Friday morning will be 9.30 am.
I didn't buy it at that time because i don't know which day will be the best. So i tried to call his friend Albert, but somehow, his clever friend off his hp all there time. I made 8 calls, and all calls failed to reach him.

Few days laterC**** ** called.

Cousin: So how is the arrangement?
Me: I checked the schedule. There will be bus at Thursday, 10.30pm and Friday 9,30am. So which time do you prefer? Thursday night or Friday morning?
Cousin: Then buy the Friday ticket. And my fight will reach airport around 2 something.
Me: Ok. see you then.

Later, i went to Hentian and bought the ticket.
Me: Akak, bagi saya tiket ke Hatyai, 5 haribulan 3.Pagi
Lady: Berapa?
Me:Satu. Pukul berapa kak?
Lady: 9.30 am
Me: Berapa kak?
Lady: RM57
(I open up my wallet and took out a RM50 note and a RM10 note)
Lady: Tak ade duit kecil ke?
Me: (showing her me wallet) Tak de la.
(Then the lady took back the ticket from me and then return back my RM10)
Lady: You pergi beli ape-ape la kat kedai, pastu tukar duit kecil. Nanti datang ambil.
(WTF! what kind of service is that, but no choice, i went to the near by stall and bought a waffer to get a change and went back to the ticket counter to get the ticket)

On the evening, i called my mum.

Me: C**** ** said that he is coming back this 5th of March.
Mum: Mmm, he called you?
Me: No through internet. And i will fetch him at KLIA
Mum: (with high tone) What, you promise to fetch him? Don't you having class on that day?Are you too free?
Me: That time i just finish my class.
Mum: Why you must the one who fectch him? He got so many uncles in KL. He should call them instead you.
Me: That time is working hour, maybe they are not free.
Mum: I thought you said that you got a lot of assignment to do. Why do you just reject his request? Later if you got problem, don't come and complain.
Me: I am just informing you. Not asking you permission. He already ask, how i am suppose to say no?
Mum: Then you settle it your own.
(Conversation ended. I know mum angry not because i helped my cousin, just because he scared that i been used by others. Since the beginning, my parents don't have good impression toward them. Every time they came back sure bring along their problems to us.)

On the 5th of March.
This morning i turn on my computer, check my mail and somehow i opened up my facebook, there was a message from C**** ** then written
"royal brunei has changed my flight, I am now flying malaysian airlines - mh130 - which departs 14:15 nzt."
What is that suppose to mean? Is his flight forwarded or delayed? i don't know. Given me the departure in time, how i am suppose to know when is your arrival and wha tis time in Malaysia.
I realized that all his messages short and incomplete. He expecting everyone know what he was planning. Sigh.... such an age, yet doing such irresponsible thing.

Well, i waited till 2pm, and i still yet to receive any call. I was wondering what i should do. Should i just wait him at the airport? or i should just wait for his call? For your info, i need 1 drive to reach KLIA.
Luckily i didn't wait him at the airport. Because i didn't received calls from him. Later, i called my uncle at TI if he got any news about him, and the answer was negative.

It's already 7.00pm, so i went out with my coursemate for dinner. Once we finished our dinner around 8.45pm, i received a call. It was from C**** **.

Cousin: Mervin, i reached KLIA.
Me: (a bit surprise) Ok, then i am coming now to fetch you. About an hour.
Cousin:( with a bit frustrated tone) What an hour? Don't i told you the time,in the Facebook?
Me: (WTF! Kinda frustrated) You just told me you changed the plane. How i suppose to know?
Cousin: Ok, then wait you there.
( I was so angry with his attitude, as if i owe him. His stupidity with unclear messages expect me to understand what he is trying to say. Yet i still have to control my emotion drive to the KLIA and fetch him.

At the arrival of the airport, fetched him up.
Me:In you mesage you just told me the time you depart,how i suppose to know when you reach?
Cousin: When i was sending you the message, the airport annouced last-call so i didn't manage to finish my message
(with few second pause) The flight from NZ to here is 12 hours and there were 5 hours different between Malaysia and New Zeland.
The way he said, as if do not want to admit his fault. I was wondering, why don't you message it earlier or just give me a call. Sigh... feeling pointless to argue with such people, I didn't continue the conversation.

That night, he stayed at my room, Had his bath, then he went to sleep. I was rushing for my project, so i went out to continue doing my stuff. 1 am, feeling tired, i stopped doing my working, went to my room, once i opened the room, i sensed a smell, a smell which not belong to me. I was not really comfortable with it, but at least, i still can bear with it. Once i was on bed, i heard the snoring sound. Maybe because i was too tired, i able to ignored it and continue sleeping.

6am, i woke up, continue with my project. By 7.20 am, i want C**** ** up. He got up, 10 minutes later.Around 8.00am we leaved to room to KTM.Before that, he leaved me a big luggage bag with some stuff inside, and say " This are for you all" I was wondering who did he meant "you all",but who cares, i don't want any of it.That day, the train was late again, i was suppose to reach by 8.23am, but reached about 8.42am. At the end, we just manage to reach bus station 4 minutes before 9.30am. Due to time time, i asked him to get into the bus first, while i went to the nearest stall to buy him some bread and a bottle of water and passed it to him. Then i went back to uni because i am having class at 12pm. For the whole process, i never get a word of thank you from him. From all the time i wasted and all the money i spent, i get no return, even the bus ticket. In the end, i just used my own pocket money to pay all his expenses. Agrh... this month, i have to be a bit stingly coz i am missing out 1/6 of my monthly pocket money.

Things didn't ended there. By 1pm, his sister sms me, asking me about the luggage. Just like my parents expectation, they sure leave some troublefor you to solve, just like Hokkien phrase " Leave a piece of shit for you to clear"

On the next day,Saturday, C**** ** mum called

Aunt: Mervin, did C**** ** leave a bag at your house?
Me: Yes, why?
Aunt: Then when are you going back to TI?
Me: Mmm, actually i am not going back, but my mum coming over this 12th of March, so i will pass over to her
Aunt: Oh, i see, then when she will be back to TI? Afternoon? or Night?
Me: I don't know. Let me ask my mum 1st.
Aunt: OK. Then you are when is she going back TI.

Well, now i am 100% clear that the "you all" did not mean us. Maybe someone else.
Then, i called my mum.

Me: Mother, you are coming up on the 12th right? Aaron's SPM result will be on the 12th right?
Mum: Yes. Why?
Me: Hehe, the luggage C**** ** leave here. Just now his mum called me. She was asking when are you going back TI
Mum: See, i told you, they sure leave some shit for you to clear.
Me: Ya la. So what time you will be going back TI?
Mum: I not sure. I still not sure what time will you brother's result will be out. Just tell them you don't know.
Me: OK. If they need it urgently, i will ask them to come by themselve and that it.

Again, i call her back.

Aunt Bee: Hello? who's on the line?
Me: Is me, Mervin
Aunt Bee: Yes? Why?
Me: I wanna to talk to AhMgeh( a calling)
Aunt Bee: Just talk out, they can hear you.(What!!! she is turning on the loud speaker)
Me: Ah Mgeh
Aunt: Mervin, how?
Me: My mum said that she is not sure what time she will reach TI(Teluk Intan) on the 12th.
Aunt: On the 12th will be too late. How about you come to 4-Check's house (my 4th uncle) for dinner, i TREAT you
Me: (i straight a way) No. I cannot, i am doing my assignment. I not free to go.
(Deep in my heart, no matter what you treat me, i not intended to go.)
Aunt: How long your place to here?
Me: About an hour plus.
Aunt: If that, then just pass it on the 12th. What to do.
Me: OK. Bye.

Lesson to be Learn:
1) Try not to be a pleaser.
2) Understand a person character before you give a hand.
3) Becareful when you offer help.
4) The only genuine people to offer you help will be only your mum,dad, and siblings.
5) Some friend or relative meant nothing,they just using you as their tool.

Life full of experiences, you will know when you experience it yourself.
If you never experience it, you will never know.
From experiences, i grown, i learned, and i took my path.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Lesson to be Learn 1(JAPANESE)!

I had been a hectic week. Rushing for project. Sleepless night. Unsettle down feeling. Well as a red hat thinker(refer Edward de Bono's theory), that the way how i think. Though i don't really like it, but that's me.What to do!

Last Wednesday, i went to Look Up Point with a group of Japanese( i skipped my German class, a bit guilty). This was the first time i actually communicate with Japanese people. Though they are a bunch of youngsters(19-21), yet we still able to converse well. It was kinda hard to really understand what they are talking, and they can't either really understand us. haha... as if dog talking to cat. When i talked to them, i need to use the simplest word to describe a thing and need to think when they talked to you something. After all, we need a lot of patient to communicate. Interestingly was they actually brought a note book whenever they go, a jotted down whatever incidents they experienced. I remember that when i told them my name, they immediately wrote it down on their note books. It's kinda funny when i saw their writing, as if a standard 1 student writing abc.... or you can say how horrible my words when i write in Chinese.LOL!

They a surprisingly the friendly type. Very lovely,polite and full of expressions. Once we reached the restaurant, they started to run with their cameras up.Going to take photos with the KL view.
They seem like so happy and really enjoy the night scene of KL. Thing got more interesting when i fetched 3 of the Japanese girls back to Uni. Whatever we talked, they surely showed us their expression. Unless the don't understand, and showed us the look that they were blur. Once they get what you meant they will al, together" ah......haik" showing that they understood us. As if every single word you speak you been appreciated. Once we reached their hostel, they got down from the car and then 3 of them bow together and say " aligatogosaimasta".

That night was an eye-opening night for me. And lesson to be learn:
1) Try to note down what everthing that you experience as a memory.
2) The outside world is so different and there are many things to be learn.
3) Being optimistic
4) Life is full of experiences.

Here some pics:






Sunday, March 1, 2009

StReSs!

Out of stress, out of tension, out of boredom!Thanks to the integrated project.

Tada! the 999th Visitor!

Self-post during CNY!
But now fully bald. Wonder when my hair will be like usual again. Oh hair, please grow faster!

K. Continue the project!