Little Note

For my ultimate holiday end vacation, I'll be out and away:) So I won't be able to reply, or call or anything for the next two weeks+. Sorry.

Last Day

I got TWO new sketchbooks!:D

One B4 sized (which is comparatively the size between A4 and A3) and one A4 sized.... Both complete with white... pure...clean...untainted... paper... Except for this on the first page of the B4 sketch book:

Yeah, yesterday was my last working day at Little Olive. I was meant to be in at 4pm but I had some things to do and was still out and by the time I reacher there, it was 4:30 and raining so heavily. When I stepped inside, they were having class with Kak Aqsa (the new teacher who would replace me) and when they saw me, all my students screamed, "Teacher Alia's here!!!" And they made such a huge noise and ruckus and came running to me, eventhough there were only 3 of them, it's like a zoo in there. I am not joking, that was what happened. It's like they've never seen me in years whereas I've just met them last week. lol.

I had to go to the office to meet Kak Miza because I brought cake with me (which was for the students). So when I went out of the class to the office (which was in the other building), all three of them came tagging along like little ducklings. I wouldn't mind it except it was raining REALLY heavily, like just running to the other building left me so soaking wet, it's like I took a shower with my clothes on. But they were all laughing and when I told them to go back into class, they were like, "No2, we want to follow you. It's your last day."

When we reached the office, Dr Mastura was shouting at them (my 3 students) to not run in the rain else they'd get sick. But they were still laughing. Lol. Kids; the other word for innocence... Sometimes. Ahaha. So after I passed the cake, we went back to the other building for class and I tried to help them out with their exercises but they were talking and talking nonstop. Asking me why I have to go, more than 20 times. Wondering when I'll come back and asking when I'll visit and how often. Requesting for my phone number and my address (because they said they wanna come over once they finish their exam). Fuh, so semangat.... And they said that Kak Aqsa got frustrated with them because they weren't doing their work.

It's so sweet to hear when they say, "I want Teacher Alia to teach!" And I'm thinking WHY do they have to do this now JUST when I'm about to leave? Whereas when I'm having classes with them, they're all so bratty and naughty, running around here and there and playing with the stuffed toys and saying they don't wanna do any work. And saying "I don't know", "Tattau", "Mulla", all the time. On my previous class, they were all so angelic, doing their work and finishing off all the worksheets I give. Syarif says maybe I should pretend to leave and then come back and they'll be angelic all the time. HAha.

Kevin had to leave early because he had another class to attend. So I gave them my laminated handmade bookmarks and they were screaming and shouting (again) and showing it to the other students. I've never seen anyone so happy receiving a present for me. It made me want to cry and laugh at the same time. lol.

At around 5pm, Kak Miza and Dr Mastura threw a surprise farewell party for me! They brought in sandwiches and weenies and subak/baksu (this is Korean for watermelon. I can't remember which one it is because my students taught me that when you turn the word around, it means clap. Either subak is watermelon or clap or baksu is watermelon... or clap), juice and more:) I thought theat we'd just share the chocolate cake but they went through all this trouble just for me.. They also invited my previous students.... I was so touched...

We took lotsa photos (which I'll try to put up when Kak Miza sends them over to me). And also, I got a big present from Dr Mastura and Kak Miza! They all asked to unwrap it and yeah, the two sketch books were inside. Plus super awesome art colouring pencils (not the normal ones; they are from Checkoslovakia), placed neatly in a wooden box with my name written in Jawi. An Olive tree photo and two cards from Dr Mastura and Kak Miza AND from my maths students!:D

So as can be seen on the picture, they wrote on the first page of my B4 sketchbook with the colour pencils. It looks really cute:) I couldn't scan the whole thing because the paper was too big to fit the scanner and I was too lazy to scan twice:P

I waved goodbye to them when my dad came and they all stood at the door (because it was raining) and one of my students even ran up to the car and said goodbye.

I'll miss them. Kids are like that, I guess. Undescribable. Thank you for teaching me some of life's greatest lessons... :)

~nadhirah
nine twenty six ante meridiem
twenty second may two thousand and eight

Deprived of sleep Part 2

Actually, this isn't a continuation or part two of my previous post. However, it does link to that post because I CG-ed my drawing!:D

Yes2, I don't think I mentioned it in my earlier posts but I finally got my super awesome Graphire4 Wacom Graphics Tablet. Alhamdulillah. I think I've got it for over a month now but I've not had the chance to use it. And finally my super awesome genius little brother got to install it in the computer and I am able to use it!:) Aneesah, arentcha proud of me?^-^

It took me a few hours to get used to the Wacom. The stylus (the pen) is not at all like a pencil. And the tablet isn't like paper. It's more slippery... And it's quite a new experience because instead of looking at the paper, I have to look up at the screen. I think if the keyboard can talk, Ctrl+Z would be screaming and pleading me to stop pressing them. Lol.

There were 3 bundled software which came with the Wacom which were Corel Painter, Adobe and Photo-- something. Lol. But I really did not know how to use all three of them. Since I use wacom to draw rather than do photo enhancements, I thought that corel painter would be the most useful... But I couldn't find a suitable pen tool to draw with at all. So I got frustrated and put it away for a while... Then got it installed in the other computer which Ahmad uses Macromedia Flash in and this is where I got to draw better:D At least I know where the tools and what to use and everything. A lil like paint... But much more coolerXD Lol.

I tried to use the pressure sensitivity (the harder you press, the thicker the lines) to my advantage but it took quite a few times (and more Ctrl+Z's) until I got the hang of it. It still kinda looks distorted but otherwise the main picture/idea is there.

And I have yet a lot to learn about Flash.. Once i tried to use it through reading the manual and all (I'm not really the person who adventurously clicks on everything and tries them all out... Not so sure why) and I got so bored... But I can always ask Ahmad's help. he is a professional and learnt Flash all by himself!O_o

I am absolutely amazed when I look at the tutorials for inking... I guess it takes up a lot of practise and time...and patience. And more ctrl+z's. Lol. Maybe I should consider taking Graphic Designing and drop medicine. There's a thought...

Spread the joy:)

I am super happy!:D

I got a new sketchbook!:) I cannot begin to describe the intensifying happiness of getting a new sketchbook. After finishing my other sketchbook, I had to draw on scraps of paper... And they were all over my desk and when I don't like to see my desk all messy, I would stuff em all in my drawer. Ahaha.

Pure.. CLean... White... sketch paper... I'm so happy; I can say that over and over again. Ahahaha. THank you for getting me the sketchbook!:D You know who you are. Lol. I know it doesn't really spread the joy and everything.. But whatever. it's MY joy and happiness!:D AHahaha.

On a different note, I was having lunch with ahmad and my parents yesterday and when the lady asked me what I wanted for a drink, I asked for "Fresh mango juice." And she was like:

"Mango?"

and I was like... "Uhh... Manggis? No2.. Pelam? *TUrns to ahmad* WHat's mango in malay?"

Ahmad, "Pelam is plum. Mango is MANGGA."

Lol. Anyways, when I asked my parents, my mom was like it's not pelam (and pelam is NOT plum either). What I was actually trying to recall was mempelam. Which is also manggo. But the old word for it. I can't believe I forgot that it's called mangga. But my grandma always refers to it as mempelam, NOT mangga. So I got so used to it... THat's why I've always known that it is mempelam. I bet aki is laughing her head off when she reads this...

Also once, when we were having lunch elsewhere, I said to the guy behind the counter, "Nak papaya." and the guy was like huh? And I was like... Uhh uhh b-betik!X| The guy was practically holding it in to not laugh and safi was guffawing all the way. He even makes fun of me now..-_-"

Owh, I have 3 more classes before I stop working at Little Olive; my working place. Lol. When I told my students I was leaving, they were like, "WHY???:O" And I said because I have to study and I want to become a doctor. And they asked, "How old are u, teacher alia?" And I asked how old do u think i am?

"Twenty".

Two of my students chorused that age. Lol. So I told them my real age and they were utterly shocked. Ahahaha. And they said, "You're not a teacher then. You're just a student!" Lol. Yeah2. I'm a young teacher I said. And everytime I attend class, they are still not over the overwhelming fact that I am not above 20. Lol.

~nadhirah
five thirty seven post meridiem
fifteenth may two thousand eight

Deprived of sleep

This post is because Aki made me update my blog. Yeah, I know I've not been putting things up lately. Even Iman who is more busy than I am blogs even more often than me!

Anyway, yesterday I have no idea why I was such in a drawing frenzy. Frenzy... I guess you can call it that. Lol. I think I can be so obsessed with drawing to the extent that I deprived myself of sleep. I finally went to bed at 2am last night after completing a few drawings (which you can all see throughout this post). I cannot do a drawing and then continue and finish it off the next day. I just have to do it all in one go, because I think that my drawing style won't be the same anymore once I take a break. Lol.

I went through my rough drawing book which I started about 3 years back. I like to look through them and then redraw it again and it's really interesting that I can see the contrast and improvement. At times I laugh at myself thinking: Omg i used to draw like that? Lol. But yeah, I learnt a lot of new things and it's a life lesson that constant practice results in improvement:)

The sketches (of the image above) in the boxes were drawn in 2005 whereas the *better* new and improved shaded ones were done last night.
Farah told me I should create a DevID but I'm too lazy to scan and put them all up and everything. My blog can kinda be like a DevArt page too:) See? I can do both!:D

This is the elf from zimbabwe. You can note the mischievous grin and devious looks. Not because that's what I think. But that's what everyone thinks. Lol. Kidding. The elf itself made this description when it explained why it is called an elf. I say 'it' because I am not yet sure if the elf is of male or female gender. If u look at the drawing, it can be both right? Lol. Of course, the elf is an illusionist. For all we know, it/he/she might not even be an elf. That would be a shock. Owh, I know some people might find it weird that the elf is wearing such wintry clothes especially coming from zimbabwe. But that's because the elf migrated to the US. And why is the elf wearing a hat thing? Because most elves wear hat things. And the reason for blue? I like blue:) Besides, if i choose red, it'll be like a santa elf.

This is the elf's beloved fluffy ball. I drew two versions because the top one is -obviously- a ball and I'm following direct to the description. Fluffy. Ball. Though of course, the elf wrote about the fluffy ball and posted up pictures which made me rethink that OMG it's actually a human child??? *shock shock* So I drew a human child. In fluff. Though he doesn't look so ball-ish. I think he looks absolutely adorable:) Though more adorable in real life.

This is Mira. I drew her because I suddenly thought about her. I'm not so sure why. Lol. I miss her.
Why purple? Because she likes purple:)

~nadhirah
twelve twenty post meridiem
thirteenth april two thousand and eight

PS: Fuddy, I write the time and date just because I like writing them this way:) In text form.

On the highway

Yesterday when we were going back from Johor, my dad asked me to drive on the highway.

I tell u, it is SUPER fast; the speed of the cars on the highway. Ahaha. For one, i drive at around 80 kmph and actually when i started driving, the speed limit was only 60 kmph. And on the highway, the speed limit is 110 kmph and my dad says I HAVE to keep at that speed; else we'd be back after 6 hours instead of just 3.

So my dad was like: "Overtake that lorry" and my mom would be "No2, it's okay."

Or "keep to the right lane". and my mom would go; "it's alright, just stay to the left."

Or my dad would say: "Speed up". And my mom would say: "slow down".

Ahahah. Of course, this happens only occasionally and it was an enjoyable drive throughout. THough I have to admit it is super scary to drive on the highway:S THe cars are fast and cutting in here and there and i never left my hands on the 2 and 10 oclock. After that, my foot and hands and neck got aches all around because i sat that way for about an hour>_<

Oh well. Experience:)

~nadhirah
eleven thirty six ante meridiem
fifth may two thousand eight

At Janda Baik

Stayed overnight at Sailor's Rest for Labour Day holiday. It was really nice just lazing around. Really peaceful:)

With my mom; just outside the boathouse.My dad and I; at the gazebo-ish place next to the river.

Any resemblance?: Out of 4 of my brothers, who do I resemble most?:P
From Top: Ahmad, Safi, Syarif, Siraj

Photogenic: Siraj and his super poses