I could almost swear that time passes much faster in the UK compared to Malaysia!!!
It's like everytime i look at the time, at least 10-15 minutes would have passed, and that's not normal. Sometimes even when i just stare at the clock i feel that the seconds needle is working much faster than it used to. I used to believe that one would feel that time is passing fast when she/he is busy and fully occupied. Yes, I am indeed busy but ever since I came to UK, i feel that even when i'm not busy time passes so fast. I could just sit and dream on the bed and before i know it, and hour would have passed. Also, when i'm bored in class or when i hate the lesson, i used to feel that time is passing slow. But even tat no longer applies to me in the UK. Now, i feel that time even passes fast when i am bored (of course it passes extra fast when i actually like the subject or maybe...the lecturer. ehem ehem...) in short, time passes fast in the UK and i dun think i actually like that. I meant to fulfil and enjoy every moment of the 3 years i have here. I've succeeded so far. Maybe, that's why I feel time is passing fast...hmmm....no, no, no...it's still not logical. Time does pass faster in UK. That's definite.
and thanks to that, i now have to work at an extra fast speed to finish all my work and to fulfil all my commitments well. 2011, you sure are going to be a very busy year for me. I've already gone through days, weeks and even months where i have so much to do that i hardly have time to breathe (this is what we call a 'hyperbole' in literature...wink!) I realise my hectic life is back..but i'll be able to handle you... =)
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Goodbye 2010, Hola 2011!
So it's the New Year. Goodbye 2010 and welcome 2011.
2010 has been a wonderful year for me. After dreaming of studying overseas ever since i was a child, i finally have my dream come true. I've experienced autumn and winter. And best of all, i've experienced snowfall and even made snowman. My trip to Ireland was wonderful too. The whole highlight of 2010 for me was to pass my foundation and make it to UK and i've succeeded. As for my results, well, it wasn't exactly as high or as good as i wanted it to be but it's the first time i can say, i have done quite well after getting horrible results for the past 4 years (i'm a total dope when it come to science). Also, I've been slowly rising out of all my troubles and the traumatic experiences I've had in the recent years and i can proudly proclaim that now, the real Safiya is finally back- stronger than ever. Yes, it took me some time but at least in all those time it cost I didn't really screw up my life or make any decisions which i will regret later on. Despite being down, I'm stil on the right track. Basically i have to say that 2010 was a good year for me. the only bad thing that happened was me falling rather ill during the holidays. hey, that's normal. I fall ill at least once a year, who doesnt?? Also, in 2010 i finally learn a very important lesson in life. I have learned to forgive others. I am not yet an expert in forgiving, but now, it's so much easier for me to forgive people and i find that i feel happier when i forgive. Besides, i think i'm learning to keep my emotions (the negative ones) at bay too. I'm starting to be more rational and less emotional, and I hope in the years to come, I will continue improving myself.
Goodbye 2010. You were a very good year for me. After having few direct 'bad years', you finally lit up my life once more. Thank you.
So with a happy heart and renewed spirits, I'm ready to face 2011! May you bring me and all those around me joy after each sadness, strength after every pain and hardship and most importantly good health and never ending faith. =)
2010 has been a wonderful year for me. After dreaming of studying overseas ever since i was a child, i finally have my dream come true. I've experienced autumn and winter. And best of all, i've experienced snowfall and even made snowman. My trip to Ireland was wonderful too. The whole highlight of 2010 for me was to pass my foundation and make it to UK and i've succeeded. As for my results, well, it wasn't exactly as high or as good as i wanted it to be but it's the first time i can say, i have done quite well after getting horrible results for the past 4 years (i'm a total dope when it come to science). Also, I've been slowly rising out of all my troubles and the traumatic experiences I've had in the recent years and i can proudly proclaim that now, the real Safiya is finally back- stronger than ever. Yes, it took me some time but at least in all those time it cost I didn't really screw up my life or make any decisions which i will regret later on. Despite being down, I'm stil on the right track. Basically i have to say that 2010 was a good year for me. the only bad thing that happened was me falling rather ill during the holidays. hey, that's normal. I fall ill at least once a year, who doesnt?? Also, in 2010 i finally learn a very important lesson in life. I have learned to forgive others. I am not yet an expert in forgiving, but now, it's so much easier for me to forgive people and i find that i feel happier when i forgive. Besides, i think i'm learning to keep my emotions (the negative ones) at bay too. I'm starting to be more rational and less emotional, and I hope in the years to come, I will continue improving myself.
Goodbye 2010. You were a very good year for me. After having few direct 'bad years', you finally lit up my life once more. Thank you.
So with a happy heart and renewed spirits, I'm ready to face 2011! May you bring me and all those around me joy after each sadness, strength after every pain and hardship and most importantly good health and never ending faith. =)
Friday, December 31, 2010
Fantasy vs Reality
My age is catching up but i'm wondering whether or not my maturity is increasing paralel to my age. If before this i became addicted to my childhood fav cartoon 'Lion King', now i've got myself re-addicted to another one of my childhood favourite, 'The Cave of the Golden Rose' which is also called 'Fantaghiro' on Youtube.
Lion King caught my attention once more due to its songs and the hidden but meaningful message behind the songs and the story (i'm not going to elaborate on this. might do that in another post). However, the tale of Fantaghiro did not actually re-capture my attention as the effect the story had left on me many years ago is still very clear. evrything about the movie captures me, the setting, the plot, the magical elements and even the song. This is one movie i will never forget. and the land of 'the cave of the golden rose' will always be preserved in my memory for a very long time, maybe even forever.
it hasn't passed me that the movies and books which leave most impact on me mostly have something to do with magic and fantasy. after 'Fantaghiro' i loved watching 'the 10th kingdom'. and my favourite next to 'Harry Potter' is 'Narnia'. All of which are based on fantasy and magic. most importantly, all of those story takes its readers and viewers into another world, a world different from what we are accustomed to. In fact, this actually happens even within the story of '10th Kingdom' and 'Narnia'.
Now as I grow up, I realise the actual pull which all these stories have on me- the fact of being taken away into another wolrd. All my life i have always wondered how it would be if I accidentally or even purposely step into a different world. Maybe that's what i really want and it's why i continue to love these stories.
People say that living in fantasy is bad and that we must always stick to reality. When have i ever cared much about what ppl think and say. For me, fantasy is equally important as reality. it is through such fantasies that i am able to leave aside my worldly worries and give my mind some rest. besides, fantasy story always play with 'hope' as the stories always have a happy ending. often, no matter how realistic we are, we forget the importance of hope in our daily lives. when the hope within us dies, our spirits die with it, leaving us to be a lifeless soul. True fantasy, we are reminded that hope is not gone and that gives us the courage to carry on.
Reality hits us hard at times. Fantasy on the other hand can be argued to be a deception. The choice of living a painful truth or living a deceptive fantasy is individual and whichever option chosen; the choice is never wrong. Some people need to live in fantasy as their realistic life bring them no reason to be happy. they can always opt to live with sadness and heartache throughout their lifes, but is that the right choice?
fantasy vs reality...there'll never be a definite answer to that (as long as i am concerned). I need both in my life. I'm a realistic person (I know I am and I don't care if others think differently), still I will always love fantasy. I think that no matter how old i become, a part of me will always long to be in one of the fantasy worlds such as those in these stories.
Lion King caught my attention once more due to its songs and the hidden but meaningful message behind the songs and the story (i'm not going to elaborate on this. might do that in another post). However, the tale of Fantaghiro did not actually re-capture my attention as the effect the story had left on me many years ago is still very clear. evrything about the movie captures me, the setting, the plot, the magical elements and even the song. This is one movie i will never forget. and the land of 'the cave of the golden rose' will always be preserved in my memory for a very long time, maybe even forever.
it hasn't passed me that the movies and books which leave most impact on me mostly have something to do with magic and fantasy. after 'Fantaghiro' i loved watching 'the 10th kingdom'. and my favourite next to 'Harry Potter' is 'Narnia'. All of which are based on fantasy and magic. most importantly, all of those story takes its readers and viewers into another world, a world different from what we are accustomed to. In fact, this actually happens even within the story of '10th Kingdom' and 'Narnia'.
Now as I grow up, I realise the actual pull which all these stories have on me- the fact of being taken away into another wolrd. All my life i have always wondered how it would be if I accidentally or even purposely step into a different world. Maybe that's what i really want and it's why i continue to love these stories.
People say that living in fantasy is bad and that we must always stick to reality. When have i ever cared much about what ppl think and say. For me, fantasy is equally important as reality. it is through such fantasies that i am able to leave aside my worldly worries and give my mind some rest. besides, fantasy story always play with 'hope' as the stories always have a happy ending. often, no matter how realistic we are, we forget the importance of hope in our daily lives. when the hope within us dies, our spirits die with it, leaving us to be a lifeless soul. True fantasy, we are reminded that hope is not gone and that gives us the courage to carry on.
Reality hits us hard at times. Fantasy on the other hand can be argued to be a deception. The choice of living a painful truth or living a deceptive fantasy is individual and whichever option chosen; the choice is never wrong. Some people need to live in fantasy as their realistic life bring them no reason to be happy. they can always opt to live with sadness and heartache throughout their lifes, but is that the right choice?
fantasy vs reality...there'll never be a definite answer to that (as long as i am concerned). I need both in my life. I'm a realistic person (I know I am and I don't care if others think differently), still I will always love fantasy. I think that no matter how old i become, a part of me will always long to be in one of the fantasy worlds such as those in these stories.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
I'm wishing on a star
To follow where you are
I'm wishing on a dream
To follow what it means
And I wish on all the rainbows that I see
I wish on all the people who really dream
And I'm wishing on tomorrow, praying it'll come
And I'm wishing on all the lovin' we've ever done
I'm wishing on a star
To follow where you are
I'm wishing on a dream
To follow what it means
And I wish on all the rainbows that I see
I wish on all the people we've ever been
And I'm hoping on all the days to come and days to go
....
I'm wishing on a star...
To follow where you are
I'm wishing on a dream
To follow what it means
And I wish on all the rainbows that I see
I wish on all the people who really dream
And I'm wishing on tomorrow, praying it'll come
And I'm wishing on all the lovin' we've ever done
I'm wishing on a star
To follow where you are
I'm wishing on a dream
To follow what it means
And I wish on all the rainbows that I see
I wish on all the people we've ever been
And I'm hoping on all the days to come and days to go
....
I'm wishing on a star...
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Reading week, Sushis and Birmmmmmmmm!
i promised an update didn't i?
lets see..the only reading i've done so far is chapter 1 from O'Grady's SLA's book. as for the portfoilio entries, i've literally not typed even a single word.
but today, i did have an amazing time in Birmingham.
despite the fact that i'm notmuch of a sushi fan, i actualy dined in a japanese restaurant an swallowed sushi after sushi. one thing i notice is that sushis have a very bad effect on me. i makes me go all weird, as if i'm drunk or something. this has happened twice: the first was during the bonfire and fireworks in kenilworth and the second is this trip. why??? why?? what's in the sushi that makes me go all excited and crazy???! ppl from other tables were actually looking at our table and i could read it from their faces "these girls must have had too much alcohol"...
well, that's that. i guess, its no harm for me to go a little crazy once in a while right.
now to the other eventful happenings in birmingham. i shopped more than my expected budget. nothing surprising there. however, i am very happy with my buys. i simply adore my pair of boots (although it's exactly like lala's one..as she put it, 'it's ok kak long, we're sisters!'). while trying it, i din even ask for the price and since it was so very comfy and nice, i would have gotten it even if it had cost 30 pounds (it only cost 20 pounds). and then, though i already have 3 complete sets of thermal wear, i went and bought another 2 sets. erm..i'm not sure if this is a smart thing to do. i wash my clothes very often because i usually handwash and only use the machine once a month (maybe longer than that). so,do i really need so many pairs? but since i've already bought it, i'll just make the most of it. there are sure to be days when i wont have time to wash my clothes that often, so the extra pairs will do me good.
well...i could go on and on with this post but i'll stop here for now. perhaps i should do some reading. now, where did that novel go...?
lets see..the only reading i've done so far is chapter 1 from O'Grady's SLA's book. as for the portfoilio entries, i've literally not typed even a single word.
but today, i did have an amazing time in Birmingham.
despite the fact that i'm notmuch of a sushi fan, i actualy dined in a japanese restaurant an swallowed sushi after sushi. one thing i notice is that sushis have a very bad effect on me. i makes me go all weird, as if i'm drunk or something. this has happened twice: the first was during the bonfire and fireworks in kenilworth and the second is this trip. why??? why?? what's in the sushi that makes me go all excited and crazy???! ppl from other tables were actually looking at our table and i could read it from their faces "these girls must have had too much alcohol"...
well, that's that. i guess, its no harm for me to go a little crazy once in a while right.
now to the other eventful happenings in birmingham. i shopped more than my expected budget. nothing surprising there. however, i am very happy with my buys. i simply adore my pair of boots (although it's exactly like lala's one..as she put it, 'it's ok kak long, we're sisters!'). while trying it, i din even ask for the price and since it was so very comfy and nice, i would have gotten it even if it had cost 30 pounds (it only cost 20 pounds). and then, though i already have 3 complete sets of thermal wear, i went and bought another 2 sets. erm..i'm not sure if this is a smart thing to do. i wash my clothes very often because i usually handwash and only use the machine once a month (maybe longer than that). so,do i really need so many pairs? but since i've already bought it, i'll just make the most of it. there are sure to be days when i wont have time to wash my clothes that often, so the extra pairs will do me good.
well...i could go on and on with this post but i'll stop here for now. perhaps i should do some reading. now, where did that novel go...?
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
My Big Plans for Reading Week
firstly, i wanna smile as wide as i can, cos after so long, i really managed to 'melepas rindu' to some ppl who i miss so much.
so, it's the reading week. logically i (and everyone else who has reading week) should be spending the wekk doing tonnes of reading right.
let me list out all the work which i have successfully accumulated
SLA
(from the o'grady book)- chapter 1
- chapter 2
- chapter 3
- chapter 5
- chapter 13
(Gass & selinker book) - chapter 1
ORACY- 3 theories of language learning
- Krashen's theory
- listening (i have no idea why there is so much to read on this...ish!)
- communicative competence
SOCIOLINGUISTICS- definition of bilingualis and all its problems
- individual bilingualism
- bilingualism & the family
- bilingualism & the community
CULTURE & CITIZENSHIP- 4 weeks of portfolio entries plus the ethnograpy report for this
week (which includes carrying out the survey, analysis the data
and writing the report)
- All the too many handouts...
so..i have all this to see to and since i have succesfully wasted my 1st half of the reading week doing nothing beneficial, i am left with too much to do in too little time. Live is to be enjoyed, its not worth getting myself all worked up for this mountain of work.
now to my plans for this week
1) lepak with ell in leamington spa. might even go to jephson garden to snap some pictures
2) write emails and catch up with my family, frens and lecturers in msia
3) handwash my clothes (this is a must..no excaping this chore)
4) carry out the survey for ethnography report
5) might actually start on the report if we have sufficient data
6) i'll probably do 1 or 2 portfolio entries
7) i must get my hands on the oracy assignment (since i dun have the question paper, i still dun even know the question or have any clue at all about the assignment)
8) maybe..just maybe i'll read a few pages for SLA , not sure what i'll read but i'll try to read something.
as for the rest of the stuff which i need to read or do, i will just have to forget about it for now. i will start panicking when the dateline is really near or when it's about a month before the exams.
hmm..it's 10 am now. i've been awake for hours but i havent actually done anything. i wonder why i even bothered deactivating fb. ever since my deactivation, i've found so many other ways to waste my time well. hahah...i know i'm so gonna regret all this in a matter of time, but i just cant bring myself to care.
btw, who else wnats to joing me and ell for leamington? we can release tension ppl (i dont thinki we actually have any tension as just yet but who cares..)
so, it's the reading week. logically i (and everyone else who has reading week) should be spending the wekk doing tonnes of reading right.
let me list out all the work which i have successfully accumulated
SLA
(from the o'grady book)- chapter 1
- chapter 2
- chapter 3
- chapter 5
- chapter 13
(Gass & selinker book) - chapter 1
ORACY- 3 theories of language learning
- Krashen's theory
- listening (i have no idea why there is so much to read on this...ish!)
- communicative competence
SOCIOLINGUISTICS- definition of bilingualis and all its problems
- individual bilingualism
- bilingualism & the family
- bilingualism & the community
CULTURE & CITIZENSHIP- 4 weeks of portfolio entries plus the ethnograpy report for this
week (which includes carrying out the survey, analysis the data
and writing the report)
- All the too many handouts...
so..i have all this to see to and since i have succesfully wasted my 1st half of the reading week doing nothing beneficial, i am left with too much to do in too little time. Live is to be enjoyed, its not worth getting myself all worked up for this mountain of work.
now to my plans for this week
1) lepak with ell in leamington spa. might even go to jephson garden to snap some pictures
2) write emails and catch up with my family, frens and lecturers in msia
3) handwash my clothes (this is a must..no excaping this chore)
4) carry out the survey for ethnography report
5) might actually start on the report if we have sufficient data
6) i'll probably do 1 or 2 portfolio entries
7) i must get my hands on the oracy assignment (since i dun have the question paper, i still dun even know the question or have any clue at all about the assignment)
8) maybe..just maybe i'll read a few pages for SLA , not sure what i'll read but i'll try to read something.
as for the rest of the stuff which i need to read or do, i will just have to forget about it for now. i will start panicking when the dateline is really near or when it's about a month before the exams.
hmm..it's 10 am now. i've been awake for hours but i havent actually done anything. i wonder why i even bothered deactivating fb. ever since my deactivation, i've found so many other ways to waste my time well. hahah...i know i'm so gonna regret all this in a matter of time, but i just cant bring myself to care.
btw, who else wnats to joing me and ell for leamington? we can release tension ppl (i dont thinki we actually have any tension as just yet but who cares..)
Sunday, October 10, 2010
When a dream comes true
i was supposed to write many more posts earlier but the preparation to go to uk really took up all my time-but alas, i'm finally here in uk.
my journey started off with the torturous struggle to drag my 23kilo luggage bag along with my 7+ kilo back pack and my extremely heavy laptop. the fact that westwood was a 30 minute walk from where we were dropped off made everything so much worse. i'm really grateful for the help i got from haniff. also, i just cant thank the seniors enough for seeing to our meals on or arrival day.
the walk was worth it. as it turned out, my room is one of the biggest and the view is simply breath taking. in the first few weeks the weather was a torture. coming from a very hot country, it wasnt easy to adapt to the cold weather in uk.
now that it's been one month, i think i am starting to adapt but i just cant imagine how cold it'll get during winter. i am still adapting and i still feel rather lost in this new place. i dun like feeling lost. i like feeling fully certain and confident.
the food is not much of an issue as it is easy to find halal food. besides, we can always cook our own meals. this is rather time consuming though.
one thing really does surprise me though. when i 1st arrived i thought i was dreaming and every step i took felt like a dream. surprisingly enough, i still feel that way. i dont feel very real. i feel even i am imaginary or something like that. even since young i wanted to study in uk, and my dream came true. now that i'm here, i should at least feel less dreamy, right..
when will the reality that i'm already in uk sink in?
my journey started off with the torturous struggle to drag my 23kilo luggage bag along with my 7+ kilo back pack and my extremely heavy laptop. the fact that westwood was a 30 minute walk from where we were dropped off made everything so much worse. i'm really grateful for the help i got from haniff. also, i just cant thank the seniors enough for seeing to our meals on or arrival day.
the walk was worth it. as it turned out, my room is one of the biggest and the view is simply breath taking. in the first few weeks the weather was a torture. coming from a very hot country, it wasnt easy to adapt to the cold weather in uk.
now that it's been one month, i think i am starting to adapt but i just cant imagine how cold it'll get during winter. i am still adapting and i still feel rather lost in this new place. i dun like feeling lost. i like feeling fully certain and confident.
the food is not much of an issue as it is easy to find halal food. besides, we can always cook our own meals. this is rather time consuming though.
one thing really does surprise me though. when i 1st arrived i thought i was dreaming and every step i took felt like a dream. surprisingly enough, i still feel that way. i dont feel very real. i feel even i am imaginary or something like that. even since young i wanted to study in uk, and my dream came true. now that i'm here, i should at least feel less dreamy, right..
when will the reality that i'm already in uk sink in?
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