I survived

This past week has been really tiring... the amount of sleep I got was minimal (broke my personal record), combined with the stress equals pimples and dark eye circles. But I wasn't alone. All my course mates were having long nights too, so I tried my best to suck it up and focus on the work and not waste time because TIME was indeed the limiting factor.

I have never been more glad to be on the other side of adversity. It feels like I have been released from physical and mental torture... Picture an abused bird finally flying out from a cage and zooming around the sky freely like crazy. The most important thing was to clock in on some sleep. Felt awesome not being rudely awoken in the morning by the familiar sound of the alarm. It's like you're suddenly jolted and your eyes pop open and you rush to put an end to that loud, in-your-face noise. Never realized how getting sufficient sleep really puts one in a much better mood.

Spent much of the weekend dining out with family. It's therapy for me. Good food with good company. :)

And for those of you who don't already know, my internship application has been approved!!! Was really surprised how quickly the company responded. The HR department was efficient and friendly. That strengthened my liking and faith towards the company. I think I'm really going to learn a lot working for 3 months in the food industry. And since it's quite a big and established company, I would expect a professional work setting and up to standard laboratories.

I have been assigned to the Quality Assurance department, which is one of the major career paths for a Food Science graduate. The other options include R&D, product development, technical sales, government regulatory, etc.

But the industrial training doesn't start until I finish my exam in November... so it's a long time to go. I'm definitely looking forward to it, but the long work hours are slightly intimidating... Hope I don't get burned out by the hours!!

Writing way too much already, I have a feeling you're about to close this window. So BYE for now, and BE HAPPY!! If you're going through a tough time now with assignments, work or just life, stay strong alright, because every time you pull through a rough patch, you become that much stronger and wiser. Very true.
:)

Working it out

The best way to eliminate fear and stress related to studies is just to force yourself to sit in front of your desk and WORK. There's no shortcut. I know I have the habit of worrying and whining prior to the actual working, but once I got started I realized it's not all dark clouds after all.

Been working extra hours yesterday and today.. now I feel so much better (though at the expense of my weekend)!!

Finally caught up to where I'm supposed to be. Already went through two thirds of what I need to study for my Microbiology mid sem test. Finished one assignment. Now I just need to start working on a much dreaded lab report that's gonna be due on Thursday. If I start now, I just need to work on it part by part each day, so I won't have to torture myself on Wednesday night like the previous weeks.

The key is to be consistent. Cannot afford to slack off anymore. Need to keep the momentum going!!

Gosh, I feel like such a nerd for writing an entire post about assignments and time management. You guys probably don't wanna read about this anyway rite :P

Going to have some FUN later, but right now it's report time!
Just want tomorrow to be better than today :)

AHHHHH

Screaming. That's what I feel like doing now.

This week and the next is going to be the busiest and toughest fortnight of this semester. It's that week where you have a major assignment and a double lab report due, and top that off with a mid semester test. It's scary when you don't completely understand some of the content being taught.

Honestly I'm completely overwhelmed.
There's just too much going on, to the point that I don't know what I should do first. It's like fire coming at me in all directions. Which do I put out first???

Yes, isn't life dramatic? Or at least I am.

Pardon me.
Life is stressful now.

Then again it's Monash. This happens every semester. It's THAT week.

I hope I don't end up submitting a half ass job. Becoz that isn't what I want to represent.
I have standards. Anything that has my name on it needs to pull through.

Bahhhhhh....
I should stop blogging and get on with work.

Balance

I think I've finally found some balance in life.

Went to consult another Gastroenterologist in February who was recommended by another physician. I think this time the diagnosis + treatment plan was finally right. Well at least it feels much better now after one month of medication.

Turned out to be 3 words: Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Irregular bowel contractions result in food not being properly moved as it should be, trapping air in the bowel resulting in bloating. Subsequently the bloating makes me feel full all the time, resulting in poor appetite and weight loss. Bloating also forces the stomach acid up the esophagus, causing acid reflux and the discomfort that I'm so terrified of.

The downside is that there is NO CURE for IBS. Just prescriptions for symptomatic relief. Well, it's better than nothing. If it means feeling better and being able to eat, then I don't mind taking meds long term. Some people get better on their own after taking the course of medication, but for most the chance of relapse is high. It's been a week since I finished my meds, and so far I'm still feeling OK, so fingers crossed that it stays that way!!

Apparently some ppl are just born with this condition. For others, it is triggered by lifestyle, namely stress. That explains a lot. But anyway, physically I feel good now, even gained a little bit of weight which is a seriously welcoming sign! I was afraid that eventually I would be nothing but skin and bones.

Being physically fuller means being able to play sports better! I feel fitter than usual. Can go for jogging and do sit ups without feeling tired as quickly as before. More energy. Stamina is getting better, just need to maintain it now by exercising regularly.

And that gives me the opportunity to really rebuild my tennis game. I know what needs to be done tactically, with the technical and mental skills to back it up, and now I will be able to execute my game physically which was always the aspect that was hindering my progress.

Feeling healthier also means being able to deal with assignments and late nights better! Or maybe it's the fact that I'm in week 5 now, so the body naturally adjusted to the student lifestyle again.

Whatever it is, I'm glad the good times are here.
Pray that they stay.

Happy B'day Sis

Well hasn't it been a while since I updated this blog.
Just like previous semesters, things really get hectic from Week 3 onwards. Now Week 4 has ended, and the feeling of being overwhelmed has set in as expected.

Sometimes I wonder why we need to do all these lab reports and assignments because I don't really see the point in how torturing myself will actually help me in my career in Food Science in the future. The amount of research that I have to bust my ass to do now, most of it just doesn't seem really relevant in the long run.

And it's my sister's birthday today... well at least it's already the 27th over in Australia where she is now. I think this is her first birthday away at home. When she left for Brisbane last month it really didn't seem that much of a change. All of us took it quite well, even my sis didn't appear to be home sick or teary. That's just the way my family is, we don't weep over something that is supposed to be positive haha.

But I think the reality has finally set in now. The home just feels so quiet during regular weeks where my other sisters are also away from home. On days that are rough, I come home from class feeling defeated only to feel more alone. Not that I don't talk to my parents, but you know it's just different from having a sibling to confide to.

I miss the times where we would go for supper.. such as McD or Kayu whenever we felt like it. Probably the only person who would go satisfy my random cravings with me at all the oddest times. Miss the times we watched horror movies together since no one else in the family likes this genre, miss the times where we watched dvds in the TV room with potato chips and alcohol. And the times we went for tennis together, which hardly happens now becoz it's just not fun playing with Mr. Ong on my own. Since mum and dad usually have different activities going on, so most days it's just me. Just feels so dull now, you were always the exciting one that was brave and creative enough to try new activities and stuff. Come to think of it, if it were not for you I probably wouldn't have discovered my passion for tennis.

Just wanted you to know how much of an influence you were and still are to me.
Though I have never said this out loud, but yeah I definitely miss you!!

Hope all is well in Brisbane and have a great 25th birthday!!! :)

Coping

Firstly I feel terribly sorry that I didn't fulfill my promise of writing about my trip last month to Brisbane. Not that I expect anyone to eagerly want to read it, but it's just something I already set out to do but failed to accomplish... so it's more like a personal letdown. Since returning from Aussie I was just consistently occupied with one thing or another, and before you know it the new semester had started.

Just reached the end of week 2.. and I already feel defeated. Having difficulty adjusting to the insane timetable, having classes as early as 8am and only finishing at either 5 or 6pm where the traffic along the Sunway road and LDP is torturous. Even though I'm only doing 3 units this sem (thanks to my summer effort :P), the overall time I spend in Uni is actually longer than previous sems. Really sapping. My energy levels are at a all time low, body feels like it's been ran over by a bus (several times) even though I haven't done anything really physical.

Despite the fatigue and grumbling, I find the units this sem to be quite interesting. BioprocessTechnology is like an introduction to the processing done at the industrial level, while Microbiology is fun... fun as in the labs are fun, playing with bacteria and all. But the lecture content is killeriffic. Lots to remember. And then there's Biochem, I haven't been attending many lectures because they all happen to fall at 8am, so sometimes I don't get out of bed in time... :(
I realized i'm not a morning person after all.

The only thing that has been getting me through rough mornings and traffic jams is great music, particularly tracks from Aphrodite (once again promoting Kylie!), which are so uplifting and it really helps brighten my day. :)

I'm sure my system will get used to this new schedule eventually, I hope it does so before the assignments and reports come in full force some time next month!! *gulp*

Till then, stay positive everyone! I know I need to :)

Aphrodite Les Folies 2011

Illusion - one my favourite tracks from the album.


Kylie's 2011 tour has begun! Opening night was in Denmark and since then videos taken by fans hav been appearing on YouTube! Thank god :D

This uploader has one of the best quality videos I've seen of the Les Folies show. The show is amazing with a Grecian theme, obviously in line with the whole Aphrodite - Greek goddess concept. The opening of the show sees Kylie ascending from the "ocean" in front of a giant golden shell. The show features plenty of outfit changes, a flying angel, acrobats spinning around in air, a rotating circular piece on the centre stage, multiple fountains that shoot jets of water high up into the air while being illuminated in an array of coloured lights, leaving fans in the special 'Splash zone' WET!

This production has been reported to be the most expensive concert show ever created.. so savour the greatness of Aphrodite Kylie, a true dignified goddess of pop. :)

Back from the sunshine state of Aus

Greetings! I had an awesome weeek in Brisbane (+ a Gold Coast day trip).

Seen so much, experienced so much, so much to talk about now. Currently in the process of editing pics, which will be uploaded on fb when it's ready! Also I will be posting some journal entries here so stay tuned folks! :)

The weather in Brisbane was HOT, HOT, HOT! Parts of my body are darker now LOL. There's a reason why they call Queensland the Sunshine state ;)
NO sign of the recent flood though, they did a fantastic job cleaning the city!

Ppl there were generally friendly, drivers ALWAYS let pedestrians walk first, the public toilets were much cleaner than the ones here, really LOVED the hypermarkets there becoz of the wide range of products they carry, public transport was expensive, in fact almost everything was expensive! @_@

Overall it was really fun experiencing Australian culture.. I tried to absorb as much as I could like a sponge, while trying to adapt at the same time! The thing I missed most about Malaysia was the food hahaha. More details in posts to come.

Need some rest now! :)