Goodby3 2009! Hi, 2010!

Happy New Year!
New Spirits...
Full Stop.

University application Update!

I submitted my Maryland online application today. I knew that it's impossible for me to get an admission letter from Wisconsin.
Read this:
Dear Pang Siew La,

Thank you for the update on your TOEFL results and the significant improvement.  I am sorry to say that the score 94 is still too low for admission to the College of Engineering.  Please know that numerous applicants have scores 100 and above.  If you attend a different U.S. university and establish a successful academic record, including in English composition, you are welcome to apply for transfer admission.

Regards,

Bonnie Schmidt


Should i retake my TOEFL again?
However, there are too many things to be considered. 100 and above: It is not an easy job for me. 
I didn't know what should i do now. Really need someone to tell me the solutions.


I still have 3 universities online application.
I haven't sent my stuff to Maryland. My dad will post it on the 3rd January. 

Random thought about "JPA scholars"

Yesterday, I didn't to Kinokuniya in the morning. I spent RM150 for myself, RM 100 for my friend. I brought magazine and magazine and magazine. 2 magazines about Gadgets. Reader's Digest and Cleo. I bought 2 literature books, although i am not sure whether I'm in literature class or not, i think it won't be a waste if i bought them. I started reading of men and mice by John Steinbeck. Halfway. The color purple by Alice Walker is damn thick and "it sounds hard". I do have a wish: I am not the "lucky" one.

In the evening, i went to UM to meet Yie Wan. We talked about our recent life. Sometimes, i thought i have chosen the wrong path. I did feel i'm lucky to get JPA scholarship to further my studies in USA. My friend in a private college  who is under JPA told me JPA gives her RM600 allowance (food and accommodation). While Yie Wan who also a JPA scholar, told me JPA banked in all the money and they have to pay the college fees/accommodation/food by themselves. They have to use the money wisely. These friend are both taking engineering. Yie Wan is majoring in Telecommunication Engineering and my another friend is majoring in Mechanical Engineering. They have the same length of bonding which is 6 years. USA scholars, should we feel grateful? We all have almost the same achievement in SPM. We will further our studies overseas while our friends here will continue to study here. Besides, they have the same length of bonding as us. Supposedly, they should not to have such a long bonding as government will spend less money on them.

UM isn't big but it's big enough to discover new experiences. Yie Wan is leading a new way of life towards better future. As for now, I learnt nothing about engineering. Both of my friend in public and private university in Malaysia have learnt halfway about engineering. There are a lot of clubs and societies about engineering for them to join. We will graduate almost the same in next 3.5 years.

All three options to graduate as an engineer have their own pros and cons.
"OVERSEAS", "Local Public University", "Local Private College"

I will wait and see what we will be in the further.

It isn't a trip!

I am here (KL) since 27 dec 2010. Something unexpected happened 2 days before the departure day. My parents have to come to KL to make things done before it is too late. First day, i was staying at Smart Hotel, Damansara. First day, nothing much was done. The hotel room cost us RM139.00. 1 double bed, 1 single bed. The room was small and uncomfortable at all. Provided with a flat screen TV, i spent my day watching movies through "STAR MOVIE" channel. The next day, after checking out, we went to our next destination, Petaling Jaya. We stayed at PJ De Inn Hotel. The hotel room only cost us RM119.00. 3 single beds. The room was big enough and comfortable. I prefer PJ De Inn Hotel. Same activity was conducted in that hotel. In those 2 days, we ate Chinese food including Dim Sum, "Pao", "Prawn Mee", etc. The next day, which was yesterday, we went to our next stop. After that, here we are, my aunt's house, in Kepong. We went to shopping complex nearby here after finishing our dinner. I wanted to buy a mouse but i didn't manage to do so. Tomorrow, we will go back to our previous stop, near UM. We might stay at my aunt's house till 31 January. Before that, we will go to KLCC to settle my brother's thing. Finding a digi dealer there to register Digi De Campus line for him under my name. I am not really willing to do but what to do. I can't find any valid accuses. Not much that i have done here. I was just online, online and online. Bye. Good Night.

TOEFL again!

I think about TOEFL again.
Someone who just came out from Aussie "encouraged" me to think about TOEFL again.
She forwarded me the email sent by Uwisc.

"Yes, the College of Engineering will consider your second score after it 
has been submitted to the Office of Admissions.  Your application will 
be considered in relation to departmental capacity at that time.   
Please keep in communication with me so that your application is 
considered at that time.   Please know that the minimum TOEFL 
requirement is firm."

"A recent TOEFL score is required of all international students.  
International students abroad must have a minimum of 7 on IELTS or a 
TOEFL score of 600, 250, or 100 on the IBT TOEFL. "

She told me she planned to repeat. However, i checked the website there are no seats available in centers near and in KL until March.

However, there are seats available in KDU, Penang. 

17 Jan, 23 Jan and etc...

Sleep first. 

Good night. 

27th Dec 2009

I have to go to KL first because my parents have somethings to do at KL.
Basically, i just accompany them first before going back to polluted city.
I haven't done my other essays.
Deadline is approaching.
Full Stop. Not in the mood of blogging.

Sob =.=

Today, i woke up earlier as my parents asked me to do so. We went to KB. Yea, we did.
I cried. Yea, i did.
{Some unexpected things happened.} I had to go back to KL this coming Monday.}
Thus, no more countdown's party and gatherings.
Friends, have fun!
Have to pack my things.
The end of the holiday..

Yam Cha $Steamboating

I went out yesterday. Clarissa came to fetch me. I owned Pc RM22.20. Forgot to ask money from parents. Hehe.
We went to Makalu to eat "Steamboat". 5 girls 6 boys. RM20 per person. Kelyin, Pc, Cla, PY and me then went to TM Kopitiam to "Lim Teh".
Have had a great time chatting with them.

They planned to go vacations but i think i have no chance to join already as my holiday is coming to the end.
Have fun ppl!
They just started to Holiday.

Should I?

Yesterday, i went out with Phey Yoong and Clarissa to buy present for the X'Mas celebration at JC's house.
House, the venue was changed at very last minute. We have bought the presents. Should i angry? We all are not going to that party. Reason: Transportation Problem. Anyway, thanks for the invitation. Hope you guys will have fun at Siew Phey's House. Yea, i admit Jc's house is quite small to occupy so many people. Conclusion: Most TM-ians are not going to tonight party.

After they decided not going to the X'mas party at Siew Phey's house, TM-ians planned to have "Steamboat" at Makalu. Should i go? I am not sure. UTAR-ians and MMU-ians at TM, they want to do gathering. Most UTAR-ians are guys which i am not so close with them. While for MMU-ians, just pc and vivian. Steamboat, have to pay RM20, i am not care about the money, just i will feel paiseh with some unknown there although they are my ex-classmates. P/s: We seldom talked and not at all!. Kelyin is not going. I want to meet her instead of meeting the unknown. PS didn't come back, will go to kl with her family. Not so many ppl that i wish to meet actually at TM now.

You can say  me "i'm unfriendly", you can say me "tiao ke" or whatsoever. That's me.

Drove proton wira yesterday, "mati enjin" many times.
{shameful experience}

My Friends change, so do i.
I haven't started to pack my things, haven't done my essays.
Thinking of not going anywhere anymore.
Besides, i went to Mdm Zakiah's house with PY yesterday after sending clarissa back to her house, she was sleeping. Sorry for disturbing you, Mdm Zakiah. We went there at the wrong time, she told us. We chatted for less than half an hour. Her baby is cute. She asked me to go again, i said "see first". Might go again when ai cing came back. Loving chatting with her. Dunno why. She used to be my BM's tuition teacher since form 3. I was one of 8 of first gang of her tuition class. All 8 of us scored As for BM in PMR. After that, more and more ppl wanted to join her tuition classes. My years tuition-ers were increased dramatically. We had to separate into 2 groups. Each groups almost 15 ppl. Tc Zakiah hated to teach many ppl in one tuition session. Yea, i had been considered as the naughtiest student in her tuition class. I always changed group and went to her tuition class randomly. I always chose the time which i thought she would teach fewer students. Thanks to her, i won a price in a BM writing competition. Thanks to her, i had never failed to score less than 90 in BM since form 4. Thanks to her, i always scored highest in my form. Thanks to her, i realized a lot of things.

Without her "salty" advice, i might fail to score good grade in BM.

This coming 31 Dec, ex Mdm. Carolyn tuition students plan to do a countdown party at her house. Yea, i was her "spm 2007 leaver" english tuition student and also 2 weeks of MUET tuition student. This is another teacher i admire. Thanks to her, my English improved a lot. Thanks to her, i realized i have a lot of weaknesses. Thanks to her honesty, i almost cried after knowing that i was the only one in her tuition class who score good grades in SPM and got nothing at that time. Thanks to her, i realized i wasn't strong enough to face dilemma. Thanks for telling me i didn't deserve A1 for my english in SPM. Thanks. I really hope i can join that party and hope the party won't cancel or postpone or whatsoever. Please! I didn't meet you for a long time dy. The last time i met you in CNY, i missed PY's birthday celebration at your house which was 1 day after i departed back to shah alam.

My last week here might be "KOSONG" as before!

I haven't decided what to do tonight. Should i just follow my parents to KB or go to eat Steamboat or just staying at home? Why so tough? I have told my parents that i am going to JC's house for the party before they went to sleep. They saw me bought a present and wrap it. Now, i have to tell them the party was changing venue, HAIZ. Hard for me to do so. My parents sure will ask a lot of things. I am not in the mood answering them soon.

I have 0 cent in my "Dompet", if i wanted to go to eat steamboat, have to ask money from parents. "Had RM20 from Than Bhun which can't be used." HAiz

How?

Wait and see how.
I also dunno what will happen today.

1 more week.. Random Thought

I'm going back to "Polluted City" soon.

Departing from TM Friday morning (1st January 2010), i will have a totally different mood. 

I might have 2 more parties to attend, Jee Cheng's house might be the venue for fellow STPM-ers and TM-ians to celebrate X' Mas. Madam Carolyn's house might be the venue for MUET-ers to celebrate new year. 

10th December 2009, i attended fellow eco stream STPM-ers' party. Although i am not so close with all of them, they treated me very nice. Thanks for the invitation. I totally forgot about the pictures. Keep it, friends. Wish you guys good lucks. STPM 4 flat. I'm waiting to hear good news from you guys. 

Two days ago, i took care of my grandma in Hospital Besar Machang. She has been hospitalized for 3 days. Doctor said she might can go back today morning. Stay healthy, Grandma.

This long holiday, although i didn't have any vacations, i felt grateful as i discovered family love. I feel it. My parents  always give me moral supports. For instance, for the sake of my TOEFL examination, they took a leave to send me back to KL. My parents have taken a lot of holidays just because of me. I feel guilty sometimes.

Next semester, just have 1 week CNY's holiday which is also my mid-term break. I am going to miss my parents' cooks and "the silence of the night". 

Thinking of CNY, i haven't settled my transportation to KLIA. My flight is the earliest in the morning. Haven't thought about it. 

SAT, 13 Feb, 2010, 7.50 a.m.

I have to arrive KLIA at least before 6.30 a.m. That's also meant i have to depart from AKASIA at least before 6.00a.m. 

How? 

Wat Bangset/Uttamaram 11/12/2009-18/12/2009

    My mum helped me to shave my eyebrow.

         First moment after my eyebrow was shaved.

The highest ranked monk helped me to cut my hair.

The moment when we were hearing to a talk

"Sia Bat"... Just a practice during "Hari Buddha". Usually 3 spoon of Rice were put into one "plate of monk"

After "sia bat", the monks took the food first. Then, "mek ci" took the food. After that, we ate there inside the main hall or vihra.

If there were not "Hari Buddha" or special occassion, there would not be "sia bat". This was where we eat.

The day when parents came to "allow" their children to become monks and "mek ci".

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I chose to be there because I would like to discover myself. However, I failed. Instead, I found out lots of “secrets” and “hidden” reasons people chose to be there. Initially, I thought everyone who was there was going there willingly. I was wrong. Some of them told me they were there to learn and have fun. Some told me some of their friends were there because of their friends were there. Some of them were forced by their parents. Some of them were there to “ka bung” (something to do after promised to the “Buddha”. Maybe they had successfully overcome some failures, setbacks or sickness. Some of them were there to fulfill their spare time. This program was fully organized and sponsored by “Than Bhun”.

I chose to go back earlier because I could not stand anymore. The routine was ordinary and dull. I was upset. The talks were not for me. The talks were mostly in “Thai”. Although I laughed and seemed to have fun there, but the truth was I wasn’t. 

11^th Dec 2009(Friday)

I arrived Wat Bangset with a thought that I wanted to stay until the final day. I made a lot of mistakes that day because the instruction was given in “Thai”. Although my friends did translate to me, I did not understand them clearly. First, we changed to “all-white” attire. After the chanting, parents helped their child to shave the eyebrow. For boys, monks helped them to shave their hairs. After that, chanting was conducted again. Before that ceremony, we went to our room. We slept together with our friends. We didn’t practice “anta sila” that day. Thus, we were allowed to eat dinner.

12^th Dec 2009 – 17^th Dec 2009

We practiced “anta-sila”. We ate twice per day.

The routine:

5.30 a.m.  > Wake up

6.00 a.m.  > Morning Chanting and Meditation

7.00 a.m.  > Dharma Walk

8.00 a.m.  > Breakfast and Rest

9.30 a.m.  > Talk

11.30 a.m. > Lunch and Rest

1.30 p.m.  > Talk

4.30 p.m.  > Rest

7.30 p.m. > Evening chanting and Talk

9.00 p.m. > Back to room

10.00 p.m. > Sleep Time

*During rest time, most of us chose to sleep or do laundry. However, there were some of hardworking elderly who chose to clean the WAT.

The routine was almost the same every day.

18^th Dec 2009 (Friday)

I went to morning chanting as usual. After the breakfast, I went to “Than Bhun” there.  There were 3 people including me who were going back that day. He asked us the reasons. I told him that I had some university application to do and it was pointless for me to be there if I didn’t know “Thai”. He gave each of us RM20 and one “prak”(something to wear with a necklace).  Thanks for RM20. The “prak”, I always curious why should I wear it. I didn’t wear it for a long time. Many said it protects us.

After that, we went to Vihra to read “pasca sila”. That day we could eat dinner. After that, my parents arrived, I put my stuff into the car and changed to casual attire. I followed my mum to the kitchen. My mum had cooked something. We put the food on the table. We waited for the time for the monks and mek ci to eat. My aunt, uncle and their daughters came too. They were there to visit me. I took pictures with my friends. We ate lunch after the monks finished eating. After that, we went back to grandma’s house together.

THE END

Journey to Self understanding

George Bernard Shaw said: "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." 

12 Days 

11 Dec to 23 Dec 2009

"Unaccessible" 

My not-so-interesting TOEFL story

"It was not high. It was not low. It was mediocre. It was not enough for 1. However, it was enough for other 4. Thanks."
This is the answer i gave to whoever asked me "how was your TOEFL?"


1 is referred to Wisconsin.
"International students entering the College of Engineering must have met the Communications "A" requirement. If you are transferring from outside the U.S., you must have a TOEFL score of 250 or more."


4 is referred to Purdue, Stevens, OSU and UMD.


I scored 94/120 for my second attempt. I was grateful with that results. 
28/30 for reading, 27/30 for listening, 17/30 for speaking, 22/30 for writing.
My first attempt's score was 79/120. 
20/30 for reading, 23/30 for listening, 14/30 for speaking, 22/30 for writing.


Still, i scored bad in my speaking sections.


Still, i maintained my writing mark. I maintained the trends. I wonder why. 
My Q1 was KO. 
My Q2 was okay. 
It was totally opposite from others. Many scored better for Q1 than Q2. I wonder why. 
I am curious where i did wrong. I asked my friends. 
One of the interesting reply was "You are different."
Is that right? 


I did exercises for reading and listening. After the test, i thought it was more difficult than the first attempt in September. However, i scored pretty well for both sections. Thanks. 


I won't repeat my TOEFL anymore. I will let the luck to play its role. As for now, i pass all Universities TOEFL requirement except for University of Wisconsin-Madison. I repeated it was also because of Uwisc. Now, let's luck plays its role. 


Congratulations to those scored well. While for those who did not score well, believe me you will score well in your next attempts. Best of lucks to those who plan to retake. Best of lucks also to those who have already satisfied with their excellent results.


My TOEFL story has come to the end. Thanks for reading. 

I have to SHAVE my eyebrow.

Yea, i'm going to stay in a temple for 11 days.
I am not going to shave my hair but i am going to shave my eyebrow.
It's just a common tradition here.
It is better for a Buddhist to stay in a temple by practicing 8 laws before reaching 20.
Besides deepening my understanding towards Buddhism, i can understand myself better.
Learning how to survive without entertainment is one of the greatness things i am going to learn there.
Despite i still have 5 essays to go, my plan is easier said than done.
If i failed to finish all by 10 Dec, i would continue it after i come back to TM.
No hp is allowed, No pc is allowed..
So, it is going to be a very strict camp.
I willing to join this camp is because i really want to understand myself deeper. Besides, i hope my karma earned can benefit my friends and family members. Bring more lucks to them.
By receiving the facts i am going to USA next year, it is the only chance for me to do deepen Buddhism.
So, no one can "access" me for 11 days.. No need to try.
Remember, Siew La is "unaccessible" for 11 Days..

7 Essays 1 Done 1 Pending 5 Blank

Can i keep my own's word?

Lazy to blog.

Really have to settle my university application stuff as soon as possible.

Taekwondo T-Shirt design-I haven't started. I got a new Logo from Amirul. Ppl have done their jobs. I haven't started.

=.=