Style

The only other thing that is as satisfying as shopping is helping your friend shop. Even more so if your friend happens to be a guy.

Shopping with your girl friends is a norm. Everyone does it all the time but when your guy friend comes up to you for fashion advice, you better take what he asks you to do seriously. It is probably one of the few opportunities that you will get to impart some style into his life. I've seen one too many guys wearing really "apek" clothes to work. Dress your age guys!

I spent 6 hours at the mall today with my friend. He needed to get working clothes for his internship over the summer and I was given the privilege to help him pick out his work clothes. I was surprised that he didn't collapse out of exhaustion after 4 hours. We were really really tired at the end of the day but needless to say, I think we did good.

I helped him pick out ties, shirts, pants, socks, cologne and a suitcase. Despite the amount of stuff I helped him get, I think another trip is in order, his wardrobe is still incomplete...but not anytime soon. My feet are killing me.

We'll Be Fine

I've always wondered how friendships grow and over time, I realized that one of the surefire ways is when things are not going well for either person and the other one is there to love, support and encourage them when times are bad. Even more so when both are ironically experiencing almost similar situations.

I realized that when I dispense advice, I am telling myself what I need to hear at the same time. Sometimes you can't help but be in denial of the situation and it's only when you can step out of the picture or see the situation in its harsh reality that you know what you should do. There's something about saying things out loud; things that you know you should do but you haven't done because you don't want to.

Girl, we'll both get through this together. Things will get better by the day and soon, only fond memories will be left. Believe me. *hug*

(* And yes, the picture was taken in the bathroom)

Things That Make You Laugh

Life is so full of drama and I really thank God for good friends. I haven't talked to this friend of mine for a while now because I guess we both were busy with studies and stuff but I underestimated him. He knows more than he shows and what I appreciate about that is that I know I can trust him. He even knew about the drama that happened and already had premonitions about it but he never talked to me. He talked to the other party about it instead which at first, I thought was kind of unfair but now I'm glad he did it anyway.

I stopped by today to scan some documents and I just hung out with him for a while. It felt good to be able to talk about stuff. He went down to Chicago for Thanksgiving and just got back today so it was fun to be able to trade stories about our trips. I'm glad to have another guy friend I know I can rely on and joke around with. We were having this conversation about the whole drama and he told me he knew my secret and gave me this sly smile. Before we could say another word, the subject matter of the secret walked in.

I hate it when people are able to read me so easily. I try to avoid that as much as possible but then again, sometimes it isn't such a bad thing. All the while when I was walking back to my room, I couldn't help but laugh out loud to myself.

Guilt Attack

I woke up this morning feeling unbelievably guilty. Yoon is this Korean friend of mine and she used to go out with Sam but he called if off before summer ended. They were good friends for a year before they started seeing each other for another year. Ever since they broke up, they have been barely talking to each other and I know she's still pretty messed up about it. So what am I doing by hanging out with her ex-boyfriend here?! Now I even barely talk to her. We hardly see each other now and I don't think she really wants to talk to me.

I mean, I'm not trying to steal him away or something but I just enjoy his company. I was looking at a picture of them last night and they looked so happy back then. What do I do now?

Controversy

I don't know about most people but as for me, I find it hard to be good but totally platonic friends with someone of the opposite sex. It's not because of me, I'm completely fine with it but its what people talk about. I've found myself being questioned about the status of my "friendship" with guys on more than one occasion. If we were more than friends. =.=" I've been asked by my friends and even my parents!

Is it so hard to be just really good friends with a guy? I don't think so. Personally, I enjoy having good guy friends. To know that they'll be there for me if I find myself stuck in a sticky situation that I need to get out of, they can be my muscles and if the situation calls for it; bodyguards. Guys are good at what girls generally aren't...like brawn. Who do I call when I need help moving? My guy friends of course! Plus, they know stuff regarding cars, computers, sports...etc. which makes them good to have around.

I'm not trying to make them look like disposable objects here but they genuinely are good to have around. Why this post? I was recently questioned again about my "just friends" status with a guy friend of mine. We just enjoy each other's company I guess. Plus, I'm still trying to get over someone so there is no doubt about it. People can be such nosy parkers at times.

Hug Therapy

I am now a firm believer in hug therapy. It never fails to make me feel better despite the fact that I may have been having a really horrible day. I've been getting hugged daily since Wednesday...several times a day in fact. It first started with my friend Josiah, then it progressed on to Steph, then Huey Jer, and then Harold. Harold gives the best hugs because he squeezes you in a big bear hug and nothing beats that feeling somehow. So yeah, if you're feeling a lil down, go get hugged!

Scattered

I wonder where will I be in 10 years time...5 years time. Will I still be here in the United States? Back in Malaysia? Timbuktu? I received an e-mail this morning from a dear friend telling me that one of my friends left to Perth for studies. No one informed me before hand so I wasn't able to wish her goodbye via sms.

One more will be leaving soon thus, leaving 2 behind. Two of which are my dearest and closest. I miss them. I miss them even as I'm writing this. It must be horribly sad to see the people you grew up with leave one by one and in the end, you're left behind. Despite leaving Malaysia, I still try my best to keep in touch with my friends. There isn't a day that goes by without me thinking of them and wishing them well.

If you're one of those friends reading this, I might be 100,000 miles away but know that I think of you.

Information Relay

The crappy thing about being overseas is that you're so disconnected from everyone and from events that happened back home. I was having a rough day yesterday and it was already late into the night. My roommate was already in bed but I was feeling as if I was going to explode from all my pent up frustrations. A miracle happened.

My best bud came online and let me tell you that it doesn't happen very often. I nearly cried for relief as it was when I needed her as a friend most. I had a very satisfying heart to heart talk with her and boy did I feel better after that. I miss you loads Von! Friends are something I can never live without.

Then she told me something. We were both working for PenDrive back in Malaysia and knew most of the staff there. One of them, Kenny, passed away 2 weeks ago from an asthma attack. He couldn't reach the hospital in time. It was shocking and saddening because although I don't know Kenny very well, I could tell he was a nice guy. He was always nice to me. He was only in his early thirties. Goodbye Kenny, hope you're better off on the other side.

Random...

I finally got my computer hooked up to the Internet in my room using LAN. The computer guys down at the IT Center really know what they're doing. I dropped my PC off yesterday and got it back today. Nothing beats being able to connect to the Net from your room.

My classes started yesterday and I actually have a class after this but I thought I needed to take a lunch break in my room. So far, I got a feel about what I'll be doing and the classes that I think would be challenging for me would be American Politics and Quantitative Chemical Analysis. The ENSP classes seem alright for now...but then again, you never know.

So far, I've not missed any Malaysian food and if I do, there is always instant noodles. The food here is to be expected. Pizzas, burgers, wraps, salads, subs...etc. I'm doing my level best to eat healthy so I usually opt for a sub and try to stay away from the burgers and stuff. Breakfast for me is always cereal and either juice or tea. I've got so much of fibre in my diet that I do not have to worry about getting constipated.

I went shopping again yesterday, but this time to a proper mall and Target instead of Walmart. The mall that I went to will not be able to beat Malaysian malls. It was pretty old looking and the interior was rather dimly litted. However, the stuff available here is just mind-blowing. I didn't really have time to look around the mall as I had only an hour but I spent the entire hour just in Aeropostale. There was just too many things to look at in the store. I had a very limited amount of cash in my wallet and I didn't really need to buy any clothes at the moment. But boy, if I did...I'd spend all my money. In the end, I bought a hoodie, a top and 2 scarves. Both tops were 70% off but my favourites were the scarves. When I asked the store assistant how much they were, I couldn't believe my ears...99 cents each!

Anyways, I finally uploaded some pictures of my dorm and some of the people I met here. On Monday night, we were invited for dinner at a friends place. The family works closely with Asian students so yeah, it was a change to be able to eat home cooked food instead of cafeteria food. Yesterday was a holiday over here for Martin Luther King day. My friend and I attended the celebration at Sheslow Auditorium on campus. It was a welcome change from white America. The performances, music and speeches showcased African-American culture. I initially didn't feel like attending but I'm glad I did.


This was the view outside the Holiday Inn Express where I was staying when it first snowed.


This was the same view the next day. It snowed more and some of the other Malaysian students started throwing snow at each other (including me) at the hotel courtyard.


We took this picture with some of the other Malaysian students that we showed around campus. As you can see, we were feeling very very cold!


My dorm, Jewett. Very good location as it is just across from the library and near buildings where most of my classes are held.


I'm sleeping on the top bunk. It is very high up so much so that I can't sit up straight in bed or else I would bang my head on the ceiling.


My side of the room which still looks quite sparse despite the fact that I tried to furnish it as best as I could.


The front entrance of my room. I have a TV and couch in addition to the fridge and microwave but all of them belong to my roommate.


They were playing some board games at the welcome party at Andrew's place.


All of us Asian students who attended the party at Andrew's place. Andrew is the blonde guy in the red shirt on the right. Kerry is the dark haired guy in blue on the left.

Friends

Since I was feeling a little down on the eve of my birthday, it was a relief when a friend of mine suggested that we head down to KL on my birthday to do a little shopping. I said yes immediately. There is no better remedy in this world than a day out with your good friends to chase the blues away. After coming back home, we ended up going out at night again to the mamak and spent part of the night talking and laughing. You guys are the best! Will miss you loads!!