Saturday, September 25, 2010

September Holidays

How I just love holidays. Sitting around all day, propped up in the couch watching tv, feeling oh-so-comfortable back home, playing tennis whenever I feel like it, tasting great food and best of all, enjoying the company of the-loved-ones. Just one week has passed and how much I miss holidays. Lol

This raya holidays was the first raya holidays that I spent back home in PD after 2 years of spending it in Sabah. Usually I would not go back as tickets are like super expensive during the festive season. But this time around, I opted to go back instead. 3 major reasons prompted me in making this decision.
1) Sis is coming home too!
2) Grandma will be celebrating her 80th birthday and I just couldn't miss it!
3) Mom and dad celebrating their 27th wedding anniversary *big aawww*

Boy did I not regret my decision! Although there was the jealousy I felt when I heard my friends going back to KK singing karaoke, watching Step Up 3D and shopping, but nothing beats heading home, seeing the familiar faces after so many months. So first stop,

The newest hotspot in town, Ice Room

Looks delicious no from the pic on top? To me being an easily satisfied girl in the food department, it was good. Love mangoes so guess which was mine. Lol. So obvious no? But then it weren't the food that counts, but the company. How much this reunion brought back old memories. Met up with my best buds of form 6.

Ken Keat

Lay Hock

We've been friends since primary school! Although there was the separation during secondary school, but form 6 really brought us 3 close together. 3 person with such different personalities coming together, it's a miracle how we could be as close as we are till now. Still sms one another whenever we feel like it, and it's just comforting to know that someone is there for you when you need them to be. :) Too bad couldn't meet up with Pei Jun as she was stuck in Spore. Girl! I miss you so much! Shall kacau you some time soon. *promise*

After meeting up with friends, it's family time! I didn't expect it to be this big a gathering. I knew my cuzzies would be there, but not so many of them. So it felt so good. Like Chinese New Year all over again. *Grins*

The cuzzies and the gramma and grandaunt. :)

Love them to bits. :)

Now everybody say cheese!

It was such a wonderful gathering, filled with joy and laughter, certainly filled with warmth where you can find nowhere else but home. :) Can't wait for the next gathering! Probably Chinese New Year. that's like so far away! Then we went on for a trip down KL. Did some shopping in Sogo. Haven't been there for the longest time, and was certainly surprised by the amount of choices available there. Then we headed to KLCC Convention Centre for Bookfest.

It was organised by Popular

First time going to a bookfest and was really taken by surprised at the amount of people flocking the bookfest. Who said Malaysians don't read? Just visit the bookfest and see for yourself! So much to see, so little time. Bought some stationeries and my long-awaited twilight saga! OMG! Absolutely love it. At a reasonable price too! Thanks mummy. Even brought volume one and two to Sdk with me (as if I have the time to read it!). Didn't take a photo of it though, but it's just precious. *Grins*

Then later on was the celebration of my parent's wedding anniversary. Read this quote somewhere and it has somehow stayed in my head all these while. 'It's easy to fall in love, but to stay in love, that's hard work'. I can't help but agree with this quote! 2 person having to face each other everyday, believing in one another, and seeing through each other's flaws, now that's hard work. Now with the rise of divorce, am I glad that my parents love for each other remains strong, and growing every single day. Cheers to that!

Doesn't this makes you go awwww... :)

Having to grow up in small town Port Dickson within a loving family, what else could I wish for? Then holidays went on with more gathering with friends as well as me parking in front of the television, just enjoying watching whatever programme that was on that time. I was (still am) a person who just loves watching TV. A habit since young and at times I do wonder how I survive without television in campus. Lol. Then came Wednesday when Izzy came and buat kacau in Port Dickson.

See I did jump!

Kick my butt somemore. :(

As usual we went to the community park near town for some tennis coaching. But did some warm ups first with all the jumping around. Sadly, I was blamed for all the failed shots! Hmph!

At the tennis court.

In action! [Not much of a stylish tennis player huh? :( ]

After tennis, still had the energy jumping around

Chiang's looking at me thinking 'What the heck?'

Then he thought why not jump together?

Soon it went from 2 person to 4 person. (Jie what you doing la?)

Notice how Jie jumps. You can't see her face no?

Who said I can't jump? Proof!


After all the jumping around, time for some rest. :)

Next up, dinner!

Food in Seaview was good! I think I had a lil too much of food back home that it became an issue once I got back here with people mentioning I've gained weight (again??!). Seriously, I dunno how the heck am I gonna achieve my dream weight. With some more determination, I bet I can. Ok back to the story. By Thursday, I was heading back to Sdk again. Flight was too expensive on Sunday and I had to come back on Thursday instead. :( Back in Sdk, took the time to visit a few tourist spot (Well more like one tourist spot, lol). Went to Agnes Keith's House. Ask me who's that. Well all I can tell you is, she stayed in that house before, and she wrote a book last time which was very popular till the point that it was adapted into a film! Name of the book? I have no idea. Google it. Lol.
A scene from F.R.I.E.N.D.S Malaysia

The house itself behind us

We weren't allowed to take photos inside the house due to some special reasons which you'd find out if you were to go visit the house yourself. :P It poured as we were looking at the surroundings of the house. But that certainly didn't stop us from taking photos! Without realising it, holidays has come to an end. So how else to celebrate it but food!

Choc Ice-cream. Nyum nyum~

Had the best Japanese meal ever to satisfy own desire and it was so worth it! Then came the dreaded Monday and it was off to hospital! I'd talk about my new posting in my next entry. Till the next post!
-KaRleeN-



Sunday, September 19, 2010

Back to Reality

Had a wonderful holiday (more like a much needed break) back home. It was so good to be back in familiar grounds after 3 months plus (sure does feel much longer than that!) absence. Everything seemed so familiar, yet somehow so different. Hard to explain it, but I'll try some time later with the help of photos. :) The line here is killing me now so I'll just have to post about my holidays later on.

So it has been exactly 12 days since I last been to HDOK for classes. Can't say that I'm all too excited, more like having a dreadful feeling of heading back there. I know that's not supposed to be how I should be feeling. I mean I should be all perked up, excited to go back and learn everything I can. But I guess everyone's all too familiar with this feeling. The 'Back to School' feeling just doesn't sink in well right?

So for now I'm still pretty much relaxing before my dreaded medicine posting. I'm freaking out going into this posting. Hopefully I won't be as lazy as my previous posting. I just gotten up the courage to take up my books just an hour ago, and the stack of books standing right in front of my eyes just gives me a not-so-pleasant feeling. *sigh*

Guess I should bring out the optimistic Sagitarrius in me and take this as another challenge awaiting me. So wish me luck for tomorrow. Hopefully it doesn't go all that bad. Well on a brighter note, at least I'm not the posting leader! *Laughs* I'll leave you guys here for now, till the next post!
-KarLeen-

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Kubler Ross Grief Cycle

Denial.. Anger.. Bargaining.. Depression.. And finally Acceptance. For those who are unfamiliar with this cycle, it's called the Kubler Ross grief cycle model. Mostly we apply this in death and dying patient, where they go through all these stages before finally accepting the fact that they are dying. Well, for us medical students, we go through this cycle A LOT of time. Don't get me wrong! Not the dying part, but we just apply it in our lives. Depressed much? Not really, this is what you call applying what you have learnt!

Why mention this cycle all of a sudden you ask? Well, it's more of a continuous from my previous post. Since losing this precious thing of mine, I've practically gone through this cycle bit by bit without really realising it. First I was denying that I've lost it. I was thinking I must have misplaced it some place, some where. But then I jumped straight to the stage of depression. Depressed that how can I lose it so easily? How careless can I be? Then came Bargaining. I promise to be nice, I promise to be less careless, I promise to care for it more etc etc... If only You could return it back to me! But looks like my bargaining skill has not worked. :(

Then today I reached the stage of anger. Why anger you ask? Lemme just take you back to the day of the incidence. Well, I left my stuff inside the clinic on top of the trolley and without realising it, I went home (silly me!). Then when I realised I had lost it, I went back to the clinic by Monday (I left clinic on Friday and the clinic was closed during the weekend) to find out it was no more there! *cries* Then when further asked, the nurses just said go ahead. :(

Then later I was told a man from my university took it. Assuming that it was property of UMS despite being told to leave it there as the student (me) would come back and claim it. But he being his smart self still took it and counted that there was 11 of the stuff. They only brought like 10! Why did he take it!! Then I went and asked him for it today, and he said they have only 10 left. He thought a student has came to claim it. I was like WTF?! How can you assume such stuff? So that was my anger moment.

I don't know how far away my stuff is from me, but I seriously hope it does come back. Please come back to mummy. :( I don't want to enter the acceptance stage. Please come back. Till the next post...
-Karleen-

Monday, September 6, 2010

Silly, Careless Me

I've always had a habit of losing stuff. Be it cheap or expensive, nothing has been spared. Whether it is in a car, in the airplane, in the tennis complex, u name it, I've lost something there. When I was young, I would always lose my goggles and cap while swimming. It went to the extent of my parents giving me the final warning saying if I lose this again, I'll never be getting a new one. :(

Not only goggles, swimming suits were not spared either. I can't begin to count the number of swimsuits I've 'donated'. Then there's still pencil boxes in school, books etc etc. I'm really very careless right? :( Then as I get older, the things get more expensive. The most famous lost by now should be 2 of my handphones. Then there's this other stuff that I 'left' on the airplane which I tried real hard to get it back, but to no vail. *Deep sigh*

Now just 3 days ago, I lost something that's just so important to me that I just would love to knock my head against the wall. I don't know when this 'habit' will disappear, but I really hope it does go away. Help me! Till the next post.. :(
-KarLeeN-

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Weighty Issue

I've always been conscious about my size. Be it vertically or horizontally. Growing up was not particularly easy for me as it just seems that I have that much more of growth hormone compared to everybody else. Exhibit A..

Taken back in Standard 6 (mind the hair please :P)

See what I mean? Towering over the boys, sitting rite at the back of the class, standing at the back while lining up are all too normal for me. It does create a sense of insecurity I would say. I think the same goes for those who dwarfs in comparison to others, or are just too skinny. Well I've actually struggled with both the extremes, insecurities on both my height and weight.

Picture taken in 2008

As I walked (more like tip-toed) into my teenage years, I've grown to absolutely love my height. Although I still tower over my girl friends and appear just that much huge-r, I am glad that I'm tall. Well it does help pulling you upwards and not side ways to hide those extra flabs. Thank god for that! Exhibit B...

Get what I mean?

Then comes the sensitive issue that most girls fear. Weight! Well I've always been on the heavier side since I was born. According to O&G text book, I'm a big baby. Risky baby. Being post dated, and so huge weighing at 4.1kg, my friends and I would be terrified to even be considering to conduct that delivery. Doesn't help that my mom is small too. Making that delivery that tad more dangerous. Love you mummy!

Taken on my island trip in year 2008

I remembered always being embarrassed to mention about my weight. My nightmare would always be the day when everyone have to check their BMI scores. That means weight and height! While all my peers are like 20+kg, I was like 30+kg going into 40kg. Then when 40-50kg was acceptable, I was on the verge of being 60kg. So I've struggled.. and struggled bad!

Taken during my first semester in UMS

As I'm a person who just love flipping through photo albums reminiscing the good old days, 1 reaction that I always have is 'OMG! I'm so big!' Exhibit C...

I look that much bigger right?

How about this? OMG just wouldn't describe it

I would just love to burn this picture away

But I chose not to delete any of those picture, just to remind me to continue watching my weight. One of my friend in UMS has been lending me his ears, listening to me non-stop saying I'm gonna diet, and this time I would be successful. You'll see a whole new hot version and me etc etc. Well, sad to say, after saying that for 3 years now, nothing much has changed. Lol. Blame it on my indetermination. *sigh*

Taken at just the right angle?

I look thinner here no?

As I continue this post, you maybe thinking I'm like self-obsessed or something like that. Maybe I am, I don't know. It's up to individual evaluation. I was never really happy with my weight. Never! It's sad thinking back, cos at times I did look good (to me at least), well I did have my flawed moments too. Exhibit D..

Maybe the car was big making me look that much slimmer?

Blame it on the tiny penguins to make me look that much bigger. Lol

Oh yea. Growing up was additionally painful when you just have the 'PERFECT' sister ever! I mean to me she's the definition of perfect. I for one can't seem to find flaws in her (not that I am trying to). She's smart, she's nice, she's beautiful, she's athletic, she's independent and successful, she's just everything to me. Well minus her being hard headed and just that teeny-tiny bit garang (which makes her even more perfect), she's just my idol since young. So hard to try to live up to her.

The Chong siblings

She's just so sweet rite?

Everyone must have had a person who they wanted to be when they were young. Needless to say, mine was my sister. She just has the coolest friends, and has the most fun all the time. Well I guess god did have His plans for me, just look how far he has separated me from her! But somehow I know I'll survive (although I still miss her dearly)

Life doesn't look all that bad huh? :)

Coming back to the same issue, I guess I should just be glad that my (thankfully), my BMI was never at the overweight area, and I'm still healthy enough to enjoy my daily activities without huffing and puffing away. Whether I look good or bad in pictures, it's just the way I am and I'll just have to accept it as it is. *smiles* Now, going down memory lane, here are some pictures to show how much I've bloomed over the years.

Health promotion 2009

CNY 2010

Back in Taiwan 2009 (love my legs here.. *grins*)

Still in Kenting, Taiwan 2009
Earlier this year performing at the school Annual Dinner

Balancing on the ostrich egg earlier this year

After the haircut in early January 2010

Recently Gracie commented that I got chubbier after coming to Sandakan. I think I did too! That really had me thinking, what if I continue to pile on the pounds in Sdk? Here's a pic of me and my friends in Sdk, do I look that much different?

After the awesome steamboat on 30th Aug 2010

All in all, I think I should be grateful with who I am and just be proud of it. But then, maybe now I should hit the gym, or jog, or swim, or play tennis or just keep myself active to keep myself from growing any more sideways cause god knows I can't be growing any taller now. So off to keep myself busy to shed those extra pounds! Till the next post!
-KaRLeeN-