Bimbo-ing it all out!

April 5th, 2008 was the Catholic Students' Society of UKM's annual dinner, and the theme for the night was "A romantic night with the stars" (cheesy i know, but give the first years the benefit of a doubt...first years...:P)

Anyway, all hell broke loose when my mom who promised to mail me a dress from Australia sent a totally auntie dress! And mind u, this was ONE WEEK BEFORE THE DINNER! I drove all the way to Mlk to retrieve the parcel only to find this real auntie dress....*sweat* Well, of course it was a sweet thing, but it was 2 sizes too big for me, and it was so NOT annual dinner material.

So, it was time to freak out. Mid semesters where still in the progress, I did not have a dress, and my lab just WON'T cooperate with me. So that Sunday as soon as I came back from Mlk, I went hunting for a dress.

*In mind*: Ok, it is going to be black, brown, or if I go crazy, RED. Yes! Red it is....damn it...I hope I can get dresses my size here...*curses misfortune*

And there I saw, in Cheras Selatan, this shop, looking rather decent, and with not too many customers...ah...just my cup of tea.

So I stroll in, and I see this gorgeous brown thing...So I tried in on, but not before ordering the shop girl to bring everything and anything that would fit me.

The brown dress was, OK la...And I was decided on walking around a little bit to have a look first. So the shop girl showed me the dresses she picked out. I swear...awful collection of dresses, and one of them was freaking PINK! Man I saw that dress, and gave the shopgirl a disgusted look while saying, "Pink? I don't think so..Ha-Ha"
But seriously the rest were far worst! Like some total auntie dress trying to be ah lian.. Bad I tell you...So I looked at that disgusting pink thing and said, what the heck! I'm not going to buy it anyway...

But, no..fate had a joke to play on me....The dress was gorgeous on me! Perfect fit, and I looked a size or two slimmer...So I went out enthusiastically and asked,"Got other colour??*HUGE SMILE*"
"No wor..last one", was the depressing reply...

but I swear that dress was gorgeous, but it was PINK! Gorgeous....ly PINK!

I had to have the dress, and the next thing I knew I was paying RM87.90 for the PINK material sewn into an accursedly gorgeous dress!

So the week went by, I accessoried, and and received a shawl to go with the dress from a sweet bunch of frens...

and voila!



Yea, I know...Michelle is way prettier, but heck, I pulled off a pink dress! Me proud bimbo!

:P

Looking Back

It was a surprise today when I checked my mail and saw Sender: Darian Henry. Subject: [Naughty vs Nice]New comment on Listening. Without looking at the contents of my mail, I went straight to my blog and read the comment...

*Chill pepek* "Sigh, some things nvr change" I thought as I smiled.
*Work shit out* "Haha, Darian being sweet in the odd way Darian and Pearly actually talk"

And then the rest followed suit..

It instantly brought a smile to my face. I guess it's the familiarity of the name. Someone from home, from my teenage days. Looking back, I remembered all the old names, Clarine, Janice, Amelia, Joshua, Timothy, Adrian, Paul, Alfie, Junior, Jerry, Jenna, the list goes on.

Remembered those crazy walks in the blazing sun Alfie and I used to take for meetings in Sacred Heart. Remembered going to Clarine's house after school to makan and have our "bonding" sessions talking about boys and Caritas. Remembered Timothy's odd days when he tried so hard to fit in with the boys, and how I tried to tell him that it was ok to be different..(OK..THAT sounds so wrong...LOL...sorry timmy!). Remembered Junior bear bear, the sweetest guy of the lot...Remembered Joshua a.k.a. OG and and his unending singing and song writing. Remembered Amelia and Janice and more talk about boys (God, we were shallow...*swt*). And of course there was Darian...let's just say it was shame that being a teenager always made you feel odd..go figure..

So, now I am wondering, what happened to everyone? I have completely lost track of everyone of them. Alfie's the closest I am to right now. Next person I actually interact with would be Darian, Paul, and Joshua...now that IS bad.. Maybe it is just me running away from a past that was so full of memories, both good and bad. A past in which I wished things were different. I wished I could have spent more time with the people my mom thought I was too good for. I guess she meant well, but look at how i turned out...the inevitable has happened. I am no better than anyone of these people who you could say are the people I am most similar too beneath it all..You could say I am worse..Pretending to be someone I am not, to please the family...

But I guess that is me...Pearly the Malaccan, the Thomas, the CCS girl, the screwed up..Lol.

Anyway, probably just being emotional...

Later then..=)

Listening

It is hard to listen to another human being, I know. It is a known fact.

It is then our duty, as another human being to lend a ear. It keeps balance. I listen to what you have to say, and not judge, and you listen to me.

When you know someone is not going to listen to what you have say, you just don't talk.

So this brings me to my point.

Today I was tired after a long day, and wanted to have my lunch. Rascal asked me about the talk we had for CSS. I just said, it was OK. Then he asked, what did Fr Chris talk about? So I know that Rascal does not really want to know, so I just said nothing la..just about Islam. Then he asks again, what about Islam. So I gathered my breath, cause the questions he asked sounded like he really wanted to listen. So I said, well he talked about apostasy of Islam. Taking another breath so continue, I opened my mouth to say another word, when he turns up the volume of One Tree Hill series (dumbest thing I've seen).

So, after once being reprimanded for being too sensitive, I continued talking, as he turns to me, he reduces the volume. I continued saying, Oh, he tried to explain the freedom of religion Islam has promoted but unfortunately buried by Jihad. Rascal gives an indifferent nod and turns up the volume again. So I tried to finish what I had to say about the talk, and continued my lunch.

So, shall I blame myself if I am sick and tired of talking to an indifferent ear? Although it might be meant well, but yea, listen if you want to. Do not make it a part of charity. Sucky.

BN's manifesto: Promise of a better tomorrow?

I study in University Kebagsaan Malaysia. Yes, it is one of the better universities in Malaysia (because we can't even grade our universities with set standards, so we'll never know where we rank..). I have to say facilities in uni does range from really equipped in quantity (NOT quality) faculties to faculties that is not deemed worthy to be called one! But what more can we ask for, it is the best public universities can offer...first world facilities, maintained with third world mentality!

I am the President of the Catholic Students' Society, also known to the UKM authorities, whom i shall refer to as HEP as Perwakilan Pelajar Katolik. UKM also has a Perwakilan Pelajar Kristian. This I have mixed feelings about, because although I appreciate that we Catholics are acknowledged as a religion of our own, they do realize our theology is different from the Protestants. However, I do not like the fact that there is a Perwakilan Pelajar Kristian and a Perwakilan Pelajar Katolik....because somehow, I've heard accounts of accusations from certain parties that Catholics are not Christians...noe that is hilarious and is to kept as a topic for another day..

Back to UKM, yes, we are registered, our Catholic Students' Society (CSSUKM). However, we are a little unkindly treated and I have had quite enough of it!In my first year in UKM, CSS fellowships were held in Fakulti Sains Sosial dan Kemasyarakatan (FSSK) and it has been there for many years, I believe. The faculty had a change of Deans, and one fine day, this dean decided to storm in one of the fellowships (during Friday prayer time, mind you..) and demanded our permission letter (which he himself signs every month!). So happened on that very fateful day, our secretary forgot to bring the permission letter. Hence the fiasco started! He started scolding, calling himself smart for knowing how pork bones look like in the dustbin (in other words accusing us of eating pork in the university), and taking down everybody's name in the room, saying every student was blacklisted! In the history of CSSUKM, we have never packed lunch for CSS members for fellowships in the form of sterefoam boxes and economy rice, because it would be too much of a hassle... Mind you, many many many Chinese based societies and even AIESEC had their meetings there! Why was CSSUKM the target for this accusation? It just might be our religion the Dean was afraid of.

We went to HEP to ask for help (Hal Ehwal Pelajar). They in turn told us that we are not allowed to have RELIGIOUS societies meeting during Friday Prayer time to respect them...until now I do not get how minding our own business during a time when the Malay world in Malaysia stops, actually shows respect to them. Is it not better in that way?

So anyway, spirited by this challenge some of us joined the exco in our second year, and decided to fight for a room. Hence we went to a different faculty, name Fakulti Ekonomi dan Perniagaan (FEP). FEP was supposed to be less fanatical to FSSK due to the composition of the lecturers, get my drift? So anyway, we were given a room there and had minimal problems other then noise control, which they had every right to demand.
We still tried to obtained permission from HEP to have our meetings on Fridays at 12-2pm, and bit by bit they added more excuses like there arent enough gurads on duty at that hour so we can't have our gatherings, when Persatuan Agama Hindu had no problems with the gatherings at that given time. So we let it pass, and suddenly, the last fellowship before the end of the semester, lo and behold! A call to our secretary ONLY A DAY BEFORE fellowship saying that suddenly we do not have permission to have our fellowship. So she went to see the Penolong Pendaftar of the faculty that said "Ada orang complaint kamu orang ada sebut nama-nama tu". So apparently she called HEP and HEP said FEP had every right to do with us as they pleased... Pissed, we spent the second semester of that year away from university having our fellowships outside instead..

In the mean time I spoke to the person in charge of the kerohanian of the students in UKM, and all he said was the faulty can do whatever they like, although HEP of UKM gave us permission to have gatherings! Shameful to see that a mere faculty can overwrite a decision made bu the University...Malaysia BOLEH!

Later on after one sem away from uni, we tried our luck, and true enough, with the memories of goldfish, this year, my third, we applied for permission for the rooms on Fridays at 12-2pm, and we obtained it. Happily we thank God for such luck, and we've had our gatherings for one semester which no glitches whatsoever. As president, I swear, we had attendance list of all members who attended meetings, and all that have entered that fellowship was a NON-MUSLIM. So this second semester of this year, another new guy is all fanatical, refusing to hand over the permission letter for fellowship now because it is on Fridays 12-2pm.

AGAIN! So me current secretary went to ask him why cant we have gatherings at that time. He lost his temper for no apparent reason, raised his voice at her n said that he has proof of us evangelizing to Muslims... HELLO??!! We've barely had time to have fellowships struggling the the bloody F*****g venue, do you think we even have time to think about non-Catholics? Our main purpose and goal, is to create a family for catholic students in UKM where we can have activities together as Catholics and also pray together as a family. Oh no, they have proof of us evangelizing, when I the President do not endorse of such things, especially to Muslims! I do not want to get us all thrown out of University. I am accountable for the well-being of each and everyone of the members in CSSUKM as this term's pres!

According to the new pain in the a**e, now the Timbalan Naib chanselor (TNC) doesnt allow meetings to be held on Fridays at 12-2pm. I mean, obviously la. When everyone is praying, meetings that include people of the Muslim faith should not be help at that time because we respect different religions and their needs. But ours is a condition where Muslims ARE NOT part of our gatherings, so why is it wrong for us to pray when our Muslim brother and sisters are praying to? Just doesn't make sense. I see they view as, "I do not want you to mendakwah to my Muslim ppl, so you must have meetings when all the Muslims are free to attend it"....make sense?? Silly billy ain't it??

Why we have our meetings on Friday 12-2pm is because during that time, no classes are held. It is a time when EVERY freakin student in UKM is free. Already our member count for CSSUKM is a mere 65, if I were to have fellowhips on a day when 10% active members have classes, it would be totally unfair. I shall not have it outside UKM because as a registered society in UKM we HV THE RIGHT to have gatherings in UKM, no? Because of religion we are discriminated.

How on earth am I to believe Pak Lah's manifesto on Riligion and Unity, when down in Universities things like these are happening??!!in the NST, manifesto says the points tor religion and unity consist of

* build better understanding of Islam among Muslim and non-Muslims through Islam Hadhari.
* Facilitate construction, consolidation and relocation of all places of worship via state government mechanism, co-ordinated at federal level
* increase inter-faith dialogue

Interesting. Point 1, helping Muslims and non-Muslims understand Islam thru islam Hadhari? What about Muslims to understand us non-Muslims instead? Don't we deserve help in the correcting misconceptions about us non-Muslims from the Muslims?

Point 2, facilitate construction, consolidation and relocation of all places of worship?
Church of Divine Mercy, Shah Alam. Application for a piece of land in Shah Alam was done in 1977! Land allocated in 1991!! (count la). Construction was stopped twice, and in 1996 they were told that land allocated not appropriate. Another land was offered in 1999. But Majlis Perbandaran Shah Alam refused to allow it. More shenanigans, and then in 2001 another piece of land was identified for the church.Only in 2005 was the church constructed.
And what about the countless Hindu temples ripped apart, including the 100-year old one not because it was in the way of development, but because it had not a permit, although it has stood there for a hundred years?

Point 3, inter-religious dialogue? What about the formation of Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism (MCCBCHS)..Notice one religion missing?

I want to believe in Malaysia. I really do. I love the country, this place I was born in. This land I love with all its culture and food...I just wished we were treated like real citizens, and not like second class citizens...

Time

Time waits for no man,
It waits not for me,
How I long to cling to it,
To hold on to it selfishly.

Age is catching up,
I can't believe its speed,
I thought it was lagging behind,
And now I can't keep up with it.

I'm meeting new friends,
And old ones are disappearing,
I'm missing old times,
Wishing, hoping, reminiscing.

My shell is cracking,
I'm being forced out,
I'm trying to stay in,
I don't want to grow up.

I'm coming out of my cocoon,
I'm morphing into a butterfly,
I don't want to leave the comforts,
Of a familiar sky.

I don't want these wings,
they are just too heavy,
I don't want this phase,
nor the responsibility.

No time, no choice,
No life, no poise,
No sparkle, no glitter,
No lining coloured silver.

Time...

First Blog here!!

Hmmm...let's see...

I am probably doing this (blogging here) because I am completely and utterly bored..
Then again, we will never know my true intentions now would we? *evil cackle*

Just had a productive but hectic day today!

First of all, I had a crazy week last week, and secondly, it's gonna be a crazy weekend after this!!

Recently, I have taken up a responsibility I although I vowed not too.
Somehow, God works in mysterious ways....

I was really burned out before, not wanting to do anything fruitful. But, recently, a certain someone has placed this desire to serve once again....the question is, am I ready to "Put out in the Deep"??

Fr. Chris came up with this great statement to be printed out on our shirt. Fiona Kab from UiTM made this really awesome design and the words at the back reads; "We are putting out in the deep. Are you in??" being typical cradle catholics (I do not speak for all..Lol) we were all wondering about the significance of those words...what they meant really?.

Thank God our Shepard was kind enough to guide us, the Lost Sheep..=)

Luke 5:2-6
he (Jesus) saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fisherman had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,"Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Simon answered,"Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break.

So it is with life, especially when we are serving God in any way. Either by being an environmentalist, or by sweeping the roads, or by attending lectures, but just playing your role in life. No matter who you worship. So many times we fail, and just want to give up. So many times we feel so burnt out till we want to cry. There are times you just don't wanna sleep because you dread what lays ahead tomorrow. But Jesus (maybe another God for the non-Christians) has it all planned. We just have to take that plunge...All we have to do is Trust His Heart.

How I am feeling right now is truly a testament to that. I was a mess. I can't say I am perfect now, but I feel a sense of Joy within me now that I am beginning to serve once more. I know exams are around the corner, but somehow I can pay more attention than ever. I know I did not have enough sleep last night, but today I spent 6 solid hours studying. I was missing home SO MUCH, and my brother came by today and had dinner together. It always works out, if you Let Him Lead.

It is never easy. I have lost many friends along the way. People have hated my guts for standing for what I believe in. But I survived, because of God's love.

There are so many victory stories in Christ that I want to share, but a day at a time. Let us all just be thankful for this beautiful day, for all the trials, for all the accomplishments, for our families and friends.

I am just so happy that I had to share this with you.

Shalom..