the nice people in week 1 :)

In my first two weeks in Singapore, I have met:
1. two nice cab-drivers
I met the first one because I couldn't find my way to Ferdy's office. The cab driver just kept talking to me hehehe
I met the second cab driver this morning. This time also because I couldn't find my way to Margaret Drive. He didn't ask me to pay because actually the place was already very near from where I stopped the cab.
2. two friendly new people :)
I met the first one in Ferdy's office last week. She also brought me to visit CANA and because of her, I knew about the Catholic Church Directory. Hahaha. She also recommended a good place to go snorkeling.
I met the second person in Thai painting class. She's a year-1 English literature student. We're going to be roommate during the Bangkok field trip. Hahaha.

Let me also review what has happened in week 1.
I had a great time with 'mami' Monica. She came from Solo and stayed in my room for two nights. We were chatting a lot :):) hehehehe. On Monday, I had my first class on Developmental Processes. The syllabus is 70% similar with PL4221Early Language Development that I took last semester. I think it's because this semester's lecturer's expertise is in the same area with the lecturer of PL4221. It's not that I don't like the module, but I expect something different from Developmental Processes. Currently I'm doing appeal to take Intro to Clinical Neuropsy. Hopefully I can get that module and drop my current module. Hhhh.. But if I can't, let's see it as a chance to close the holes of any aspects of language development that I missed last semester, and hopefully, it means I can be more 'zai' in language development by the end of the semester. Hehehehe.

My Tuesday
I had Atypical Language and Development class. It was a raining and 30 students missed the class. Hahahaha. The lecturer showed us a video about Steven, a kid with autism who had a savant skill in drawing buildings. This module will be my favorite module of the semester. Hehehehe.
In the afternoon, I had Child Abnormal Psychology class. The lecturer was the same lecturer with Pediatric Psychology that I took last year. Hmmm.... I'm sorry.... But I kept falling asleep in this lecture :(:( the interesting thing is...I met a friend from the same batch and she told me "Ferninda, I'm getting married this year.. In May." wahhhhhh........

My Wednesday
Language and Cognitive Processes
The lecturer is my supervisor from last semester's research module. I could predict that this module is gonna be tough! But the first lecture was such an eye-opening lecture for me with lots of definitions of terms in psycholinguistics that I usually take for granted.

Today...
Thai painting!! :):)
I'm looking forward for the Bangkok fieldtrip!! hehehehe.. I don't think I'm good in drawing, I USED TO draw, but I 'lost' the ability to draw when I stepped into secondary school. hehehehehe. However, I'm still excited :):)

It's such a peaceful week for me. Hehehehe. I spend my time printing readings (hehehehe) and dancing. Still struggling to wake up early again (hikzzz..what happens to my body clock??) I suspect I couldn't wake up early because of dance practices. And I'm also struggling to start reading the materials. I start with PL3251 first. Hehehe.

a piece from my childhood

In 2009 I scanned some childhood photos. Three days ago, I decided to bring the photos to Singapore and last night I slept after looking at those pictures. I was surprised that every detail reminded me of lots of things from my childhood and I like to remember those things.
Let's look at this photo and I'll write my blog as in I play a quiz with you :P
Do you see the pink handkerchief? It means I had a flu :P and the handkerchief around my neck means I was coughing. My mom put some balm on my neck and wrapped it with handkerchief to ease my cough.
The uniform is a PE uniform. When I was kindergarten, umm, actually when everybody is a kindergarten kid, I didn't need to wear the main uniform and bring the PE attire. I just needed to wear it on one particular day every week.

Do you see the box behind me? It's a lunch box, with water bottle inside it. FYI, I still brought lunch box till I was high school. If I study in Indo university, I confirm bring lunch box to campus :P

This picture is funny coz it shows the smoke from my dad's cigarette very clearly. Hehehehe. I didn't notice it before. The cute boy is my brother. Hehehehe.
Do you see the calendar? It has 3 different dates below the BIG number: Chinese date, Javanese date, and Islam date. Up to now, my grandma always prefers this kind of calendar, which you just tear every day. Hehehehe.

The Gift

The Gift

The Gift, written by Cecelia Ahern, attracted me only because of the sentence under the title “From the author of Ps. I Love You”. I have not heard about this book before, but I do not regret reading it.

Hmm, let me think how I should start sharing about this book.

This is a ‘normal’ story, life of an extremely busy man, Lou. He really wants this particular position in his office despite his current success. Somehow he becomes friend of a homeless guy, Gabe, and he gives him a job in his office. As other ‘normal’ story, Lou has been neglecting his family. He doesn’t spend enough time with his wife and children, he misses family dinner, and he’s absent from his daughter’s play at school.

Then, Gabe makes it possible for Lou to be at two places at the same time. This has become a turning point for him. Initially, I thought the book will revolve around he can handle things well between family and work by being at 2 places at the same time, but I was wrong (and I like it when my prediction is wrong when I’m reading :P). However, it’s true that the opportunity to be at two places at the same time, has knocked Lou’s head to see things differently and to realize how important his family is to him. 

There is one part of this book when Gabe was juggling some fruits in front of Lou while Lou was calling his wife and Gabe dropped the fruit when Lou replied to his wife that he cannot come for family dinner. After the phone call, Lou asked Gabe, “You’re not good at juggling, are you?” Gabe answered, “I guess it’s not juggling if you decide to drop one.” :)

The book reminds me of the value of time. We can earn money, but we cannot earn time. I guess I’m struck by this story because in the midst of business, I find myself in Lou, physically here, but my mind is somewhere else. On other occasion, I do not really juggle, sometimes I decide to drop things even though I know they are the most important ones for me.

It’s still new year and Christmas atmosphere now. Despite the fact the bus has greeted us with “Gong Xi Fa Cai”, which is also another new year :), I guess it’s a right moment for me to reflect on how I use my time, the best gift ever. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
NEW YEAR, NEW SPIRIT!! Yeahh!!

a short and quick post before I'm going to bed:
1. thanks to Bu Tuti, my maths teacher in secondary 1, who asked the class to write a "big plan for new year"
Since then, I always make big plan every year and of course with other plans and resolutions :)

over the years, I've learned to not only having a big plan, but it must be supported with the 'ordinary plan' (I won't say it's small, coz the 'small' ones are the hardest!!). It doesn't matter whether the big plan is achieved or not, but the amount of effort that I put must reflect that I'm worth it..but if I don't get it, it's okay..maybe it's not the way :)

for example:
eg. big plan: Getting CAP 5.0 (note that this is an example)
as we know, the bell-shaped curve might make us feel that no matter how hard we study, whether we get CAP 5.0 or not depends on other people's grades too
but it's not the FIVE-POINT-ZERO-ZERO that matters, but how we put our effort to achieve it :)
for me, if I get A, but I know I don't really give my 100%, I feel "Ok lah..."
when I get C+, but I know I already give my 100%, 1st reaction: I'm hurt and shocked.. but eventually, there's no regret! There's still a feeling of happiness coz I put 100% for that module.
:):)

my friend's resolution: meet her soulmate :)
initially, i nvr want to put this-kind-of-resolution. But I support her for putting this as a resolution. No one knows whether u will meet ur soulmate this year, but maybe for her, keeping this resolution in mind means that she'll pray about it, she'll do her best to open her heart to other people, she'll improve herself, it doesn't mean she'll put on make-up more often , but perhaps she'll pay more attention on what she should wear for occasion A or B and behave better :):)
so...she'll always be ready :):)

Dream..pray..and do your best :):)
HAPPY NEW YEARRRRRRRRRRR!!!! :):)