Gift from Korea!

Shawn and Me

A tribute to Shawn!

As of this moment, I am the happiest person ever! My Korean bro, who by the way, is the coolest brother ever, and his lovely girlfriend just gave me the latest CD of BoA, shipped aaaaallll the way from Korea! AND not forgetting his card wishing my belated birthday. He such a sweet person. I'm so overwhelmed with gratitude not only because of that awesome gift, but to have such a wonderful person who's allowing me to feel what having a brother is like. Seriously! I've never felt brotherly love from anyone as much as i do from him. He's an angel. Oppa..chongmal komawoyo...saranghaeyo! ;)

Anyway, this are some pictures from today's major event. The pastry pictures I promised will come soon. I can't post about too many things as I've done before due to all the projects and homework I've been assigned with. They're all due on this Friday and the next. On top of that, I'm working on this book which I've decided to use as a sort of autograph book. I'll be getting everyone's general information as well as their small word of advice for me. It's more of something to remind me about people I've got to know during my time in DCT. Well, that's all for today I guess. More later!!

I close my eyes….

Have you ever woke up from your sleep only to wish that u were still dreaming away? Wish that you’re away from reality and away from whatever you’re currently pursuing? It’s a rare occasion really, but what do you do when it happens? You can’t give up now – you’re in the middle of it all. You can’t go on either because nothing appeals to your heart. You’re confused and you’re upset. You want to cry but you feel like laughing. You want to smile but your soul’s hurting. Everything seems so surreal. You live your life asking yourself, what’s the point of it all? In times like this, I’m always reminded by two things: 1. Allah has promised that with every difficulty there is relief, and therefore we should turn to Him for assistance. And 2. A word from and old treasured friend. He told me, “Find a sparkle in every darkness.” Then, everything seems bearable again. The sun’s brighter and everything becomes genuinely pleasing….

Today, I finally learned how to make puff pastry dough!! :) It’s been forever since I wanted to learn how to make it. Alhamdulillah I’ve finally mastered the arts of puff pastry dough production (I hope ;)) We’ll be making pastries tomorrow insyaAllah. I’m certainly looking forward to it! Hopefully when we’re all done, I’ll post some pictures. I love my pastry classes. There are a lot of skills to be developed and comprehension involved in this course yet I’m never discouraged. In fact, it motivates me to learn more. If given the choice between the hot kitchen and the pastry kitchen, I’ll choose pastries without any hesitation!

Then, there were my management classes. How I dreaded them all! It’s not that I hate it. It’s just that because this whole course is an intensive one, the subjects which are usually studied for, I don’t know a year maybe, are all crammed in 3 months! Learning it all is not the problem. The problem arises when you have to learn it all at once while having to complete of a bunch of projects along with it! It’s really frustrating!! By the end of the day, I’m all worn out. I wish I was on holiday again!! Haha! I guess that’s life huh? You must see the worse first before you can appreciate the good that you have.

As if having the whole day packed with classes, both practical and theory is not enough, I was approached by Mr. Thompsett, who had gladly informed me that my tutoring duties started tonight. I didn’t mind at all as it was a good chance for me to concentrate on doing my homework and learn more through teaching others. It’s just that today was such a strenuous day and I knew no one would come. But responsibilities are responsibilities. You just have to carry it out despite your wishes and desire. So I stayed at the lobby for a whole hour trying desperately to get part of my project done….but to no avail. I then came across to the translation of this song I love, by Hirai Ken: Hitomi wo tojite (I close my eyes)…. At least that eased my disappointment! ^_^ Anyway, at 2110 I decided to go back to my room. Try to get some work done and of course start writing this blog.

I’m feeling pretty much content now that I’ve expressed my inner thoughts. I guess now I can close my eyes….

Sunday….

For some reason, I’ve been very tired these past 3 days; not just physically but mentally too. Perhaps it’s not solely because of fatigue that makes me feel so. Haha! Perhaps it’s also the fact that I have a morning class tomorrow. Whatever it is, it definitely had affected my day. Well, my morning anyway.

I woke up to a message alert from my phone, which was the sound of a doorbell. I planned to ignore it, but did otherwise as usual, thinking it might be from someone special :) True enough! It was my beloved sister who’s currently studying in South Africa. I missed her loads. Imagine your best friend so far away, and can only talk to her so much due to various reasons. It’s awfully hard I tell you! Anyhow, after assuring her that I’ll call her in two hours, I decided to get ready and have breakfast.

Getting a message from my sister was definitely uplifting. However, the news I got during brunch was not at all something to be excited about. My really close friend Meera had a phone call from home, which was obviously bad news– her close cousin was on chemotherapy for leukemia. I couldn’t feel how she felt at that moment. I forgot. But once upon a time I definitely did - my dear teacher had cancer. And everyone was so attached to her it was impossible to not feel anything when it happened. Her sudden death was yet another blow to all of us. InsyaAllah she’ll be resurrected as the wonderful Muslimah we saw her to be amen….

By the time I got back to my room, I was ready to talk to my sis. I needed to hear her voice, I needed her laughter. God knows how relieved I felt the moment I heard Zara’s voice. It was like nothing else mattered. I love her so much. We spoke of my recent birthday and the latest scheme of hers to get to her favourite friend in her school. It felt as if the last 3 weeks away from her was like three years. I can’t imagine myself not being with her for too long. It’s just unthinkable!

Anyway, my day progressed slowly till late afternoon. I did what I usually did on Sundays - the mundane ironing mission and some studying. How boring can life get?? Then, I had a meeting on FBO (Food & Beverage Operations) project. I wasn’t in my typical cheery mood as I always was. Despite that, Alejandro and Olivia, my two close friends, made the whole meeting fun and full of laughter. :) It’s simply wonderful to have friends like them. I consider myself extremely lucky when it comes to friends. From young, I was always surrounded by good friends and people. Allah has really protected me and for that, I’m full of gratitude.

The meeting ended and I decided to entertain myself with the latest episode of Naruto. Boy, did I have a good laugh! It’s such a good series I tell you. It’s not merely another anime. I love it mostly because of how intelligent and perfect the storyline is. The way it was written, one could only be asking for more!

After naruto, I decided to write my blog. That didn’t go according to plan as I was interrupted by Meera. I went to her place for quite sometime. Spent time laughing and talking. I really hope things turn out better for her. She’s being so strong and not showing her feelings. People can’t always understand another’s situation or feelings. But never doubt that someone else in this world feels exactly the same way too. No one is ever alone. And no matter how hard things turn out to be, we should always have faith in the Almighty. God is always there, it’s only humans who are too egoistic to bend down to Him. We’re too ignorant and egoistic to acknowledge the fact that He will help us if only we asked.

I came back to my room at around ten I think. Started to write this blog. Haha! But the highlight if the day was yet to come! I had the best email from my beloved friend Syahid. It was such a sweet mail to wish me happy belated birthday…haha! That definitely made my day! All worries and frustration gone just by reading that mail :)

Now, Meera’s in my room bugging me to get her picture in her camera. And I thought of going to bed after writing this blog! Yeah rite! Haha! Looks like I have to log off. Until next time! Mata ne!

tO mY bEAt

0002... Finally, after a million attempts to make my own blog, I did it! Gosh, and you would think that making an account would be just another task of setting up yet another account! Well, it wasn't. In fact, it was so frustrating! You key in your favourite username or nickname only to find out that another individual, or so I assume, has his or her hands on it first. Then comes the address part; every other idea I get is rejected countless times. I've been trying to have this blogger going since Wednesday 20th of July for goodness sake! Thank God it's done!

Anyhow, frustration's gone and is replaced with smiles. It's true that you won't really know how to appreciate something without hardship. It just comes hand in hand. At least for me anyway. But along the way one should never succumb to negativity, especially giving up. The harder something hits us, the harder we should strive for victory because nothing is really over until we stop trying. When impossible meets miracle, heaven comes to light.

I’ve always love this line from a song from Crystal Kay: 夢が叶う日まで笑顔のまま欲しいお見て祈り捧げここにいるから…I think that’s how you write it. Anyway, it says: Until the day the dream is granted, I’ll be here smiling, looking at the stars and offering a prayer. It reminds me that if I keep on believing in myself, I can make my dreams come true. And that is truly an uplifting thought.

I guess I’ve said enough for my first blog. Haha! Will definitely try to keep up to my beat, and won’t stop to write blogs any time soon! Till next time…ja mata ne! ~ that's bye in japanese! ;)