saturday

Saturday morning: Volunteered at Family and Youth Carnival 2009 organized by Young Mercy 1 of CUCMS. We did medical checkup:) They gave out supplements for free. There was this one guy who came and started asking many many questions. I found out what this... certain supplement does. Apparently it substitutes in place for your cells and gets attacked by free radicals (which are reactive chemicals from the air). And it lowers cholestrol level and prevent processes which clog arteries.

Came back from Shah Alam: tired and exhausted. Caught an hour of forty winks before having to get ready for Foundation Night.

Theme: Masquerade.
Which means like fancy dress you wear as a disguise at a party. Safi says maybe long time ago they called it "Mask Parade" but because the noise was so loud at the party, everyone mistook it as Maskarade. And Maskarade spelling looks so ugly so they change it to Masquerade.

Everyone just wore masks. Except Kak Nik who dressed to the occassion. Really sportingly; she wore a pirate outfit. And was voted Best Dressed Female:)

And thank you for the rose, sayang^^ Sorry I was so moody; I was just really hungry:P But it really cheered me up when I got the rose:)

shortest distance

"the shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor.

The one who kneels to Allah can stand up to anything."

OCD

I got quite frustrated with the foundation board because when they paste up the results for our quizzes, it's all mixed up. So I decided to get some materials and spruce it up. Make columns and divide it according to subjects. Alina says I have obsessive compulsive disorder.

The other day Iman called me about the Muslimah Night saying how we have a little issue here about people having discomfort with our content of the Night. Iman, you don't know how happy I am you took the prompt action to write a two page letter to explain our program. You're the bomb:)
While I was on the phone, Sharon (my housemate) overheard me and after that she asked me what that was all about. I told her I'm part of the organizing committee for the MN for our Secondary school. And then she looked at me in shock.

Sharon: Aren't you out of your school already?
Me: uhh... yeah....
Sharon: THen why are you stil "attached"? Aren't you just automatically an alumni? Without having to do all these things?

So Alina joined in the conversation too and they explained about how they as an alumni aren't connected with their school anymore. I thought about it... and I guess it has to do with us being really close. In Adni. And also I guess because I was one of the early batches; 5th batch... When you're part of an initiating... thing, you tend to do more and have that sense of ...urge. Lol.

Same thing here in CUCMS actually. I'm also the 5th batch of the college. 3rd batch of the foundation. 1st batch once we get to the new building. We have no graduates yet in CUCMS. But there are so so many things to start and to begin and... which is just so cool! Because it's like you're given a clean white piece of paper and... it is upon YOUR creativity to form that masterpiece!:) For some reason, that just excites me>_<

And najah summarized me in two words: Sensible and Hyperenergetic.

Sharon says she was shocked to find out that I was a Head Girl. She says I'm too nice to be a head girl. And because she thinks head girls are all strict and talk a lot.

Tomorrow will be volunteering in Shah Alam for the Young Mercy Youth and Health Carnival.
And at Night, will be attending Foundation Night.

Ttyl:)

Cultural Night '09 *updated*

Updated with pictures. Last last week was May Intake's Cultural Night and I was the MC.

And I'm putting them up now because I've only just looked through the camera and realized that there are these photos.

Qila (her group did Thailand: Lah Krong - Festival of Lights). Qila makes a suitable Thai Guy;)

The group which did Japan: Tea Ceremony and Geisha Fan Dance.

I was walking and suddenly they started calling me: Alia alia! Jom amik gambar! Lol. One of the guys' group did Arab culture: More focused on the wedding. Najah (the awesome girl in gold standing next to me) was the bride:)

Aaand.. Everyone:) Japanese, Arab, Maori, Vietnamese and Thai Culture Performers plus the 40 students from Kolej Polytech Mara. I'm sort of in the mid row, third from left. The one smiling crazily with relief:P

Loser

My dad passed me a toastmasters magazine containing articles about losing in contests. One of the stories related was about a championship finalist in the Toastmasters International Speech Contest. He, the championship finalist, competed at club level, district level and so on and was 10 out of 2500 participants at the finals. And he didn't win. And what did he say about that? It was a blast.

He said: If 25000 people enter every year, 24999 of us will fall short of the championship trophy. Thus, for the vast majority, the competition will fall into that nebulous area we often call "learning experiences". In all honesty, that phrase can sometimes fell a little hollow, a euphenism used as consolation when we don't achieve our goals.

I mean, what's so great about winning? When you win, what comes next? You've won and that's that. But when you lose, you have the drive to keep on going and competing and striving for that champion trophy!

And as related by the magazine, here's ten good reasons to lose a speech contest:

1. If you wait til you definitely win, you'll never enter
2. the best way to get better is by being bad
3. you'll be more popular. People won't resent the fact that you won
4. You don't have to waste time being nice to the judges
5. Your friends will tell you, "You were cheated! You should have won." That's what friends are for.
6. The contestant interview is fun enough.
7. Being a loser develops character
8. Trophies collect dust
9. When you win there will be nothing more to look forward to
10. You can do your best Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonation: "I'll be back!"
    

Comfort words for myself to lay a soft foundation when I fall many many times over before I become world-class speaker:)

Leadership Camp 2009

Leadership Camp 2009 was the most relaxing leadership I've been to. When we reached there, I saw some girls carrying cameras and guys geared with guitars. And I'm thinking; how would they have time to snap photos or play a tune??? It's a LEADERSHIP camp for goodness sake!

Will share the programs here and then talk about the more interesting stuffs in other posts.

Before the program, there were about 65 people but then only 45 made it because there were last minute back-outters. So, our group comprised of 5 guys and 3 girls. Something which is so so very new to me. For lunch on the first day, we had to eat on the same table with them and face them. It's not that I have anything against guys, just uncomfortable having such proximity. Just kept my head down most of the time.

Anyways, we went camping to Dusun Eco Resort; which was where Shabab and Fattayat Camp was held during Secondary 2. I had all nightmares about the torture we'd undergo.

First walk up to the camping site was long... and steep. Breathless by the time we reached there just as everyone else. Ate in cafeteria and unpacked in the chalets we were staying in.

Our first activity was "A to B". Whereby we had to get from point A to point B in such a method whereby everyone's has to be different that the other's. So we had 45 different ways; some of the interesting ones were cartwheels, silat and some other really hilarious movements. That night was basically opening ceremony.

Next morning began with Qiam. and after that we had treasure hunt around the camping site. We had a talk in the morning about "Know the Leader around you", and after that "Leaders: The influential person" and at night, "The importance of Co-curricular activites". The last title might sound boring but it was the most impactful that day. We had the canopy walk and flying fox AND after that I tried wall-climbing! For my first time, I got to reach halfway up but then my muscles started straining and my fingers and legs were showing signs of Parkinson symptoms. But still, tak puas hati and next time I WILL go and try it again!

That night we had nightwalk. For some reason, I wasn't THAT nervous. It's like I've heard the lines a hundred times from the trainer: Don't swear. We don't want extra or less people. Don't say a word if you see anything. Not that I don't take them seriously, but I just don't feel AS freaked out as I did the first time I went for a nightwalk. AND, so it wasn't that challenging because at first we had candles to hold on to for each group. We all went together in a single file; all 45 students and 5 faci. Midway we were meant to put out the flame; which we did. But after that people who brought torch lights started using them so then I could see the pathway.

Next morning we had "Critical Thinking Techniques" talk and then Group performance. Aaaand closing ceremony.

Considering I was a junior during the camp (the others were 1st and 2nd year students), I learnt a lot from them. Like during the treasure hunt we had to give a list of healthy food; and they gave the food AND the reason: like; fruits because they have antioxidants and things like that.

Also something new was hearing some of the guys voluntarily giving their opinions which I found very impressive because of the ideas they can formulate. One guy even challenged the personality questionaire and reasoned out that because the structure was a bit misleading. Lol.

Something new also having guys in a team is their spontaienity. For the "Critical Thinking Techniques" we had to make an edible sandwich with ingredients supplied to us. After we were done, Dr Sharifah said we had to explain the theme and why we design it that way. Ours was simple and like four triangle pieces facing outwards but some tuna and a cili tangkai sticking out in the middle. And the guys' of our group explanation: That leaders all have different directions or pathways of doing things but then they have the same goal to reach toward. It was hilarious.

Must pray maghrib now. Can't wait to write about the more interesting stuffs. With pictures:)

champion

14th March 2009

Alia Nadhirah bt Ahmad Fakhri: Champion of Toastmasters International Speech Contest.
And that's what I'll get in 10 years time once I become world-class speaker:)

When I first laid my eyes on the awesomely shiny trophy award at the Division P level Toastmasters ISC; I knew I wanted nothing else than to bag that cuboidal black 'trophy'. And I wanted not the bronze 2nd runner up, or the silver 1st runner up; but the gold CHAMPION one.

Ahmad and my dad entered the International Speech Contest and my dad entered the Table Topics contest. Amazingly and not at all surprisingly, he won BOTH contests which was held on the same day. My dad is so awesome.
So he's been given FOUR return tickets to somewhere AND also he's going to the next level; District level in Kuching next month. And when he gets Champion for THAT level; then he's going to the international level in the US.
I'm not really sure why but for some reason; i've never wanted anything more that to become the Champion in that International SPpeech contest. I think I finally understand Iman's drive to marry A.Cooper or become a CNN journalist. I know there will be a lot of losing and heartbreaks and many many steps. But I know I WILL get the champion title. Soon.

un-doctorish

I must clarify the misconception that doctors do not have english classes; after reading Iman's post that she was surprised we have such cool assignments. Not trying to bash you here, syg:) Just felt like typing this down. Doctors are not nerds. There are super cool un-dcotor-ish doctors:)

Here in CUCMS, we have a class called Professional Communication and Presentation Class. More or less like an English class. With all the grammar thing and the comprehension and composition exercises. And we do fun stuff too. We discuss about obesity, influences of celebrities, stress (we had to come up with a leaflet and how to inform people about it. Comments were not only given about content but also presentation; like the colours used, the font size, the attractiveness and so on), body language and things like that. We have major projects. Last sem I had PCP 2 whereby we had to do a Literature Drama; about Young Goodman Brown which is nothing at all related to medicine except when the main character died of a heart attack at the end. And my MC-ing last, last night was for the other class's PCP 3 about culture which has nothing to do with medicine either. And we had guests from Kolej Polytech Mara; just to show that eventhough english is not our main course, doctors can still act all... un-doctorish and be crazy.

Lol. So there:)

small step

17th march

It is now 130 am and I am wide wide awake. I feel like crying, laughing, running around; I think I’m turning senile. Why exactly am I this way?

Just now we had Cultural Night for Foundation in Science and I was the MC. It was a semi-formal event and so I had to be all energetic and introduce this and that. As always, I do not use the microphone because my voice is enough to be projected in the room. And when I get excited, my voice tends to be a notch higher than usual. Which is not good if Im using a mic. Because their vertibular apparatus located in their inner ear would forever be damaged. And haircells in the ear cannot regenerate. So there. Just recalling chapter on Hearing.

Anyway, got several good responses. Dr Sharifah said I was a good MC; she said she was GLAD I was the MC and she said: You saved the day, Alia. Which I am super super pleased to hear. And at the end of the event, these three girls came up to me and said they were “peminat” and said my MC-ing was really awesome and that they wanted to take a picture with me (please do not puke, najah).

Oh well. Small steps to make me Champion of the International Speech Contest:)

Decade down the road

Suddenly our english lecturer told us that we had to hand in our "Where do i see myself in 10 years" essays by 6pm. I rushed to finish mine within 45 minutes during lunch. Writing my future below an hour? It sounds funny to me now. Please ignore the lengthy add-ons. Just needed to finish up two whole pages. Probably notice that there's the lima pancaindera. That's because this morning we just learnt about sight and hearing. I think it's pretty good. To have come up within forty five minutes.

A Decade down the Road

“… and the CHAMPION of the International Speech Contest 2019 goes to: Alia Nadhirah binti Ahmad Fakhri!” Yes, that is the very line I imagine myself hearing 10 years from now.

A decade from now, I would be 29 years old, a degree holder in medicine and with many dreams and aims fulfilled.

Hearing my name announced as a champion is exactly what I envision because my ambition at the present moment is to represent Malaysia and bag the first place at the Toastmasters’ International Speech Contest held abroad. Malcolm Gladwell shared in his book Outliers that if a person continuously perseveres on an act for 4 hours everyday for 10 years, they will be world-class. My burning desire to become a top-notch speaker stems from these three intentions; to break the stereotype that Malaysians cannot converse; to abolish the label that doctors are only studious as well as to demolish the mindset that Muslim women are oppressed and cannot speak their mind.

Also in 10 years to come, I will be seeing the breath-taking sceneries of New Zealand. To counter the economic recession and the limited working positions, the Malaysian government has encouraged graduates to further their studies instead of working; and thus I have decided to follow through with this proposal. Therefore, it has already been planned now with my family that we would be moving to Auckland, New Zealand and I would be taking up my Masters there; furthering my studies in the area of childcare. My decision to stay in New Zealand is not a permanent one as there are many other countries that I have already set to travel to.

At 29 years old, I will smell the sweet scent of success in being able to have my simple illustrated children’s book about medicine published and distributed world-wide. This book is not only to introduce youths about the simple body anatomy; but also the works of microbes mainly through fun drawings and entertaining doodles. This book would be co-authored by my writer of a mother who would be composing side notes for parents to understand and explain to their children.

In 2019, I will taste my younger brother’s wedding cake. Why not mine? Perhaps an understandable question may arise as to inquire about my life partner. 30 years of age may sound old, but perhaps it may be difficult to locate a person even then who would want to be with a person as high an ambitious as me. However, hopefully I have found one by then who can support me so that I may reach the highest potential in achieving my dreams.

In a decade, I would be touching lives in more ways than one; not just scientifically as a medical graduate but as a first-rate speaker, inspiring and motivating people. I would be taking my Masters abroad to gain more insight and experience and exploring various sites. The many hurdles and obstacles I would have to go through would not dampen my spirits but rather strengthen my drive to succeed further in life. 10 years down the road will be the beginning of many, many more dreams and goals to come.

Alia Nadhirah bt Ahmad Fakhri

FD 0807 0719

Foundation in Science

Introduction to Medicine and Pharmacy

menakutkan

How do holidays finish up so fast? Seriously, it didn't exactly feel like a holiday... So many things happening; kite-flying, book cover design, muslimah night... Sadly I have not yet opened my textbooks. My assignments are silently calling out my name on my table. Back to the even busier life.

Oh well, next week have many many many deadlines to meet. Especially on monday, all assignments need to be handed in. Chemistry presentation; MC for cultural night. AND alia (terpaksa) bentang "50 tahun demokrasi di Malaysia; penilaian demokrasi di malaysia" untuk Pengajian Malaysia. Sangat menakutkan:(

Need to go and pack now to head for Johor. Iman and Kausar, have fun at Adni Leadership Camp; you know I'm really sorry I can't make it either to also torture the kids (like how we've been tortured before). Will try to make it next time insyaAllah:)

And Iman, I know you open my blog like three times a day. Sorry sayang, I may not be able to blog for about two weeks. You know I don't blog on weekdays and next weekend I'm attending a CUCMS Leadership Camp. Please pray ninjas don't abduct me during the night walk. Nightwalks=nightmare. *shudders*

Over and out:)

kids again

So, people have been asking me about the kite flying and finally I am able to update because have gotten pictures from our professional cameramen:)
Chronologically, we bought some food on the way and then headed to the Tmn Batu Metropolitan. We munched on our foods and then proceeded to run and scream and kite-fly. Inevitably, took hundreds of pictures and then we were on our way back home:)

Of course, this whole kite-flying business isn't anything new to me; my whole episode was the driving drama. But to some other people, it was something relatively new:)

Kausar especially enjoyed it because our reunion was partly in celebration of her SPM results:) and it was her first time kite-flying!:D oh well, she said we really made her day; which absolutely resulted to my heart glow with happiness:)

As always, Batch 5 reunions are awesome:) In the car we talked about UIA stuffs (majority of the attendees were UIA-ians) and about driving licenses. I guess it's difficult to explain kite flying part because to me; kite flying is just indescribable. You have to experience it to feel the exhiliration and the fun of it all.
Mo said I ruined the picture since I didn't jump (I look like I'm cheering someone on or something lol). But then I said, everyone would be jumping and I'd be the one who stood out because I'm the only one who's different:)
Kausar, Munirah, Iman, Sharaf, Fattah and Imran, thanks for coming and making my day:)

Pictures stolen from sharaf; with permission:)

blunt sense of direction

Kite flying yesterday was a blast! We had super super super fun! Will blog about it in the next post once Sharaf uploads the pictures:)

But, also related to the kite flying episode was the "driving there". Yes, the driver was yours truly.

I drove to Tmn Batu Metropolitan on Sunday with my family just to gain confidence so that I can drive there again on Thursday for Batch5 Reunion. BUT I didn't reeeaallyy remember the road; as one friend put it: Alia, you have a blunt sense of direction. Yeah, thank you.

So I was worrying and worrying about the direction and when I told Ahmad about it, he retorted; oh that's smart. Why'd you plan on driving somewhere you don't even know where? You can so sense the empathy there.

I had to consult the Google Map and the KL book of maps and trying to imagine the roads; and had to consult my dad again and again and also ask several other people. Ahmad said it's so so close to Damansara; i've been to damansara so i don't mind getting lost there... as long as i don't veer off to ipoh or thailand, i'd be ok.

And THEEEN! Iman said she knew the way:) So i didn't have to bring the map or anything. I had 6 other people in the car screaming directions at me. Well, not exactly. But all i needed to ask was: Do I keep middle lane? Keep to left? Keep to right? Straight? and they'd scream; STRAIGHT! And on the way back Iman didn't know the way but good thing Sharaf was there to direct.

I didn't scratch the car, didn't bump or crash it or anything. THe Unser is still in one piece:) And I made made made sure EVERYONE wore their seatbelts.

Kausar says I'm a good driver:)

higher than the clouds

owh! After half a sketch book, a ton of eraser shavings, blunt pencils, 20 designs and days and days of brainstorming, FINALLY my mom likes a front cover i did! (And my dad and Ahmad approves of it!). So I'm really really happy because it's been on my mind and my mom's publisher wanted it like.. days ago supposedly. I am such a procrastinator child. But I didn't want my mom to choose something because it was last minute; i wanted her to choose it because it's AWESOME (as in the words of Ahmad). lol.

AND I'm a bit more confident in driving to...somewhere. After consulting three maps, and three people. Lol. I think i can make it:D

AND finally also got a complete storyline for Muslimah Night Drama!:D Which I am really really happy about too because there was only one part missing which is THE most important part. A little disappointed because I can't watch any of the practises since Im not in KL on weekdays and all my saturdays are booked til the Muslimah Night itself. I trust they can handle it themselves... but it's just that I want to be part of the directing since I did part of the brainstorming and storywriting. Ahahaha. Someone once told me, "Don't be selfish." as in, don't try to take in all the work. I can't help it. I'm excited about it!:D

Higher than the clouds; i am in:)

Even all the assignments lined up for me tomorrow cannot dampen my high-flying spirit!:D

------------------------------
Thank you Iman because you keep on being there for me; and it seems like everytime I'm busy, I just dump the workload on you. You're my staunch supporter!:D
Thank you Nurul because eventhough you're oh-so-far away, the words you uttered raised my enthusiasm to 110%! Words have failed me again:)

nail me

i think i spend half my days WORRYING about the worst case scenarios. of events that have yet to take place. of things that are out of my control. of people who i can't talk to anymore.

Somebody, get a sledgehammer and nail me to the wall for a while so i can calm down.

star

"I have every possible faith in you that you can do all of this and still come out shining like a star."

Quoted from a wonderful friend; who said this to me. Oh you are truly a star yourself:) Thank you, my dearest.

accept it

my dad suddenly came up to me just now and said:

"Alia, in all things you do, you cannot expect everyone to come. When you have high expectations and low satisfaction, then when you put them together, you will be devastated because there is a negative decrease. But if you have low expectations and high satisfaction, then it's like a positive increase.

Even if from 100% of people, only 4 people come, then be happy and say 'yay!^^' because people have made it. You can't have perfect timing. And even if people who are the most excited and say yes yes they will come; they may have some emergency last minute responsibility to attend to, and you have to accept that too.

You can wreck yourself in three ways: before the event, during the event and after the event. Before; by worrying and worrying about it. During; by thinking that it's all not working out. And after; by thinking too much about it.

Because even if you did an event which is with good intentions and it's for the benefit of everyone, not necessarily everyone will come and you can't beat yourself up over that."

He said something more or less like that.

Im not so sure if he's referring to Muslimah Night or the TM Demo CUCMS or the Kiteflying Reunion; but he says it's for all events to come.

I need to always remember this.

crazy talk

To all the people who get weird or annoying emails from my hotmail email address or my MSN messenger, with emails with the content "nothing:D" or pirate talks of "Arrrr there ye matey scallywaygs!", i apologize on behalf of my insane and crazy brother- Ahmad.

my wind

yknow how kites can only fly up up high when there's a wind blowing and making sure they can be up there against the clear blue sky? And when there's no wind, they fall down flat on the ground and you can't see it reaching up and above the clouds anymore...

I lost my wind.... The strong wind that keeps me high up there and soaring like a bird...

Shall wait for another breeze to lift me back up again...






I promise.

soar up high!

Because there are no words to describe kite flying.

Women's Day

Have you ever wondered why all the evil and diabolical baddies in cartoons are ladies? I mean like look at Cinderalla; her evil stepmother. In Rapunzel, that old lady who imprisoned her in the tall tall tower. In Shrek, that prince's mother who was pretending to be the 'fairy godmother'. In Snow White, that witch who had the poisonous apple.

Are women such suitable candidates to play as evildoers?

I say, perhaps. And I begin this post like so because I've just watched "Happy Never After" whereby all the bad guys take over the folktales; but it has a happy ending anyways *spoiler ahead*: The story is mainly revolving around Cinderella. Whereby the hero is not the usual Prince Charming (Prince Charming is depicted as a hopeless childish perasan-ist in this movie) but actually the prince's shoe polisher: Rick. And Rick is in love with Ella (CinderELLA) and basically, the evil stepmother finds this staff to control how Endings of all Fairytales can work out. So she decrees that all bad guys (like the Wolf in Three little pigs; and the other wolf in Little Red Riding Hood, and the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk and lots lots more) to kill Cinderella. in the END, rick and ella get married and their wedding was paid by the Prince Charming. Pretty cool.

But anyways, today is Women's Day and in a totally unrelated way to my paragraphs up there, Happy Women's Day:)

tired cheek muscles

Yknow how you tire your cheek muscles? When you smile too much. You can especially feel it when you take photos and there are so many cameras when you're posing for a group picture. And the cameraman goes "Wait2, one more one more" And that doesn't event count for the number of pictures they take for ONE camera. And then you realize that somehow that smile can't stretch into a proper smile anymore but it looks so slightly forced.

But that beats nothing when you are at the top of the world. Because even if your cheek muscles can't pull your lips to a curved line, your heart is still smiling incandescently.

So there are two things I am superly happy about:

1. How to write a Proposal workshop

I attended this course yesterday morning which was conducted by Prof Suhaidi at CUCMS. It was more directed to various forms of writing, but the workshop was really productive and I learnt so so many things!

So, there were only four of us foundation students and the rest were our seniors. I couldn't help speaking out and volunteering at everything the speaker asked for. At one part, I felt like sangat mencapab and probably people are thinking "omg this girl is like such a know-it-all and always has to talk". Dah la Alia duduk kat depaaaan skali. So in order to comfort myself, I listed down (during the talk) why I speak out so much. The list which I shall write it here so people can understand why i do, and also to convince myself to talk out:

• The speaker wants response; so give it
• xnak kedekut ilmu
• see if my ideas are good or not
• promote spirit of volunteerism (my lifelong campaign!)
• share ideas
• spark interests
• practise speaking skills
• to receive as many feedbacks as possible for improvement
• to maximise time productivity
• opportunities for learning

So yeah, many a times i have to think 10 times before deciding to put my hand up. And even if I'm still undecided, I just shoot my hand right up so that I can't back down anymore and just forced to say it. My hand of course turns clammy and cold and my heart feels like it's about to jump out and there are a million flying insects in my stomach; but it's always worth it. And I would always regret if I weren't able to speak out.

But anyways, it is a good good good thing that I did because when Prof Suhaidi asked if someone wants to present a proposal paper, I volunteered to present my Proposal Paper for the Toastmasters Meeting Demonstration (that has yet to take place) in CUCMS. Alina encouraged me to go and Faizal gave me the thumbs up to present it. eventhough I was so scared because everyone were my seniors. So, of course, i got a lot of feedback and (very) constructive criticism since the participants were mostly the SC members. There was this one guy especially yang selalu giving so many of his comments "I suggest that maybe you should...", "Oh wait, go back go back to the previous..", "Perhaps you can...". I felt like kenapa selalu tembak alia ni?

But I managed to improve my proposal AND I got a lot of positive response about the event; which is why i am just so ecstatic about!:D People came up to me and said they were really interested to come. I've been racking my brains on how to promote the event, because eventhough it's really cool (to me), people may shy away from it because it's a public speaking event. But now people know about it and at least I know they will come!:D And even the president of the Student Council personally came up to me and said to "Give the proposal asap" and "This is the type of things we need!"

I was so pleased that I couldn't go to sleep at all because my mind was still furiously thinking about it last night>_<


2. Illustrator
When I met my mom, she told me that her second book has been agreed to be published!:D So it's coming out, real soon (look out for it!) And I did the illustrations for her book and when my mom's publisher saw it, she said "Can I put Alia's name as an illustrator in my database?" I screamed in utter delight. Me? Illustrator? For a publisher's database??? Meaning that if she's looking for an illustrator, I'm one of the names she has in mind!:D

And so, that is how one tire her cheek muscles:) I wonder if they can be overstretched... Would it just freeze into a smile? Or just you can't smile anymore? (That would be horrendous!) I suppose it would freeze depending on when exactly you overstretch it. I'd like to have it freeze in a smile though:)

inspiring start

Aaaand my mid semester holiday began yesterday!*tears of happiness* Well, actually it began on friday after Bio class in the morning but then there was an event in the evening at Putrajaya.

This post is actually more suited to be written in malay because of that particular event; but if I do write in Malay, it will lose all the drama; but, oh well.

Jadi, acara apa yang memerlukan saya untuk bertutur dalam bahasa melayu? Pada malam Jumaat, saya dan beberapa pelajar Universiti Kolej Sains Perubatan Cyberjaya (iaitu housemates -kawan rumah?- saya) mengunjung ke PICC, Putrajaya untuk menyaksi Malam Kemuncak Pertandigan Pidato Antarabangsa Bahasa Melayu, Piala Timbalan Perdana Menteri 2009 yang disiarkan secara (siaran?) langsung di rtm1.

Seperti F1: Baju "Young MERCY" yang dipakai untuk mewakili kolej. Kami terpaksa balik ke Cyberjaya untuk bertukar ke seragam ini selepas sedar yang semua kolej/persatuan yang hadir memakai seragam mereka.

Pertandingan ini dibahagi kepada dua kategori; iaitu Nusantara dan Antarabangsa. Peserta-peserta Antarabangsa berasal dari negara seperti Azerbaijan, Belanda, Amerika Syarikat, Palestin, China, Australia, New Zealand (Zealand Baru? haha), Brunei, Singapura, Sudan, Kemboja dan pelbagai lagi. Ia amat menakjubkan kerana mereka amat handal berpidato bahasa melayu walaupun bukan bahasa ibunda (mothertounge) mereka. Seorang perempuan yang dapat bertanding pada pusingan akhir dari Belanda hanya 19 tahun dan belajar bahasa melayu hanya 5 tahun. Ahh, amat menakjubkan:) Pemenang Pertandingan Antarabangsa adalah seorang lelaki dari Kemboja:)

Alia dapat tangkap beberapa ayat-ayat yang saya suka:
Tentang remaja: Ada jadi Khalifah, ada pula jadi sampah.
Dan: Ilmu dah miliki, adakah kita aplikasi?

Berdiri dari kiri: Sharon, Alina, Ms Fiza, Najah, Ms Fazilah, Saya, Kaktqa
Di depan, dari kiri: Aqilah, Azra

Acara ini sangat menarik dan boleh banyak dipelajari. Tapi, yang Alia sedar (dan Najah mengajar), pidato bahasa melayu terlalu struktur(ed?) dalam pandangan Alia. Sebab pertama sekali, diperlukan untuk menerangkan tajuk secara konseptual dan literal sebelum memulakan pidato. Dan juga, terpaksa menggunakan nada/intonasi yang sama untuk semua pidato (If you watch many of these pidato, you'll realize there's a certain way they present it. Like... I dunno, you have to watch it lol). Sangat lain dari berbahas dalam bahasa Inggeris.

Sekarang, saya boleh jugak menghargai bahasa kebangsaan dan berazam untuk memperbaiki bahasa saya:) macam best je bace, tapi perlu istiqamah. Tolong ingatkan saya selalu>_<

Akhir kata, itu saja dari saya, selamat malam dan assalamualaikum warah matullah hi wabarakatuh!

ideas

i desperately need ideas to make myself more busy. If you love me, enlighten me please:)