Monsoon Affair June 30, 2008

I was told before I arrived that I would be greeted by heavy rain that would last till August. Well, it has been two weeks now and the wettest so far seems just like a flaky affair. To be exact, it has rained only a couple of times. Even then, the rain doesn’t fall in torrent angry lashes like the one back home. Instead, they seem to float gently to the ground as if lulling an invisible sky child to sleep. If you look out of the window on a rainy day such as this, you can see a mist-like rain like a transparent white veil billowing in the wind. Surprisingly, at the end of a 15 minute walk with no umbrella to shade, one will still be drenched. Just like words – when spoken in a pleasant sweet voice its strength can coax an unbeliever to believe; a harden heart, to soften; and a scarred soul to confide

Well, here I am romanticizing the monsoon season in this exotic land and behind me are several reading projects to do :) Yup, there are already assignments! Today I attended two more new classes – EDCI 547 and EDFN 500. It’s no secret – I’m excited being a student again. It’s been donkey years since college (and I was never the exemplary student) but I’d like to think my journey this time round will be an enriching one.

Weekend Shots June 28, 2008

The path between the old library and Science Building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shady tree next to the auditorium. Good place to rest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entrance to the House of Prayer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The church stage as seen from the balcony.

Staff of the college taking part in the divine service.

Attentive listeners :)

Stain glass

Exit from the right side of the HOP.

Oshin

Whozzat?

Indian “pizza” a.k.a. Masala Papad – spicy, crunchy and just nice!

Tandoori chicken served with roti and potatoes/cauliflower (though not seen here cause I’d gobbled them up!)

Registration Business June 26, 2008

I’ve just finished both my registration – with the FRO and college classes. The first wasn’t too difficult as the place is just Rs50 away compared to Rs 80-120 to its previous location. The queue wasn’t painfully long nor was the officer fussy as I’d imagined he would be. Now, I can’t say the same for the latter. I told my housemate that I’m experiencing culture shock within the campus walls and not outside of them. Well, I shan’t go into details but one thing I can say is a change is necessary to make the registration process less painful especially for the students. But then again, maybe they reckon students are made for waiting and time is as free as the dust flying in the air. It is no wonder how bullies, queue cutters and foxes in the bountiful are breed.

Anyway, let’s move on to prettier sights. These are some pictures I have taken so far. Personally I think there are plenty of beautiful buildings here – though aged ones but with lots of character. Like an elderly man who still retains his handsome features. Its architecture though not the most sophisticated has its own charm. There are currently some new buildings being built. If I’m not mistaken the Student Centre. I think the most recent one is the beautiful church. Some paintwork is also ongoing with the administration building and a few others. Anyway, hope to take some more soon.

The Administration Building, first thing you’ll see as you enter the gates.

Admin Building seen from the right.

The walkway from the right side of the admin building brings you to the auditorium (behind those lovely trees).

The stage of the auditorium.

One of the side doors of the auditorium.

If you walk past the auditorium, you’ll come to this very straight road that leads to the church.

The house of worship.

I was sitting third from the last row hence the tiny view of the church stage. A pretty good men’s quartet that sang before the divine service.

One of the faculty’s houses.

The old library, between the admin building and the auditorium. Good place to people watch too when the time is right :)

Jovita will kill me for this! Heheheh.

Ahh lovely northeastern girls! (Btw, for you girls, I tell you there were lovelier sights on the old library steps :P Too bad I don’t have a zoom lense… )

The perplexing signboard which was a few steps out of the campus. What is its purpose? And why “but no so past”? Then I realized it could be fast instead of past. Well, today I noticed the other side of the signboard. Heheh. Will post it later.

Walk on, Walk on June 23, 2008

Were I to give any advice to anyone visiting me over here is get a good pair of walking shoes or sandals. Expect a lot of walking. Not that you can’t afford the rickshaws or taxies but if you would like to get to know your area better, do some exploring on your own. Well, as of now, I know where…

1) The community rubbish dump is: A note of caution. You’ve got to really watch your steps as the cows and other scavengers (including, unfortunately and sadly, humans) do leave a bit of their mess behind.

2) The phone booths to make international calls are: This is a pretty nifty thing! Unlike back home, the charge comes at the end of the month, this one comes right after you make the phone call. And it’s not that bad. Something like RM0.20 per minute back home. Too bad, I’m not the bergayut type :)

3) The FRO (Foreign Registration Office): Yup, I need to register myself at the police if I were to stay in this land for more than 180 days. Now, I’m still a little nervous I haven’t quite accomplished this. As a foreigner, there are plenty of red tapes you have to go through from renting an apartment, paying your tuition, even buying a SIM card. Frankly, it does drive me a bit nuts but well, this is part of the package. So, just learn to deal with it Ita!

4) The nearby malls are: Hehehehe. Grinning from ear to ear over this. (Psst! shopping, window-shopping, shopping, window-shopping) In fact, my room mate and I had our dinner at Pizza Hut this evening at a street call Niyoshi Park.

5) The trickshaw stations are: Hmmm. I really need to learn my numbers in Hindi. I could go as far as “Kitna”? and the Pak Rickshaw would wa-da-wa-da-wa-da me thinking I speak the language. I end up giving them a dead oyster smile :)

6) The ATMs are: Vely vely important now that I’ve located the shopping malls. Tehehehe.

Well, it’s been a tiring day but glad to have a accomplished my registration although just partially. Anyway, more to come!

Orientation Day June 20, 2008

Finally, I get to see the campus. SMC I’m here! I walked in through the gates a quarter to eight in the morning to attend the orientation assembly. Not many people yet when we arrived. I looked around 360 degrees. Kinda like what I saw. Big trees, quaint old buildings, paved walkways,  including the not-so-well-maintained landscape.  I didn’t have time to do a complete tour of the campus but what I saw so far are interesting enough. No, I didn’t bring my camera this time round. Last thing I want to look like is a total tourist.

Friends have told me about the variety of people I will see on campus. People who are of Indian nationals that have features like Awie or Abu Bakar Ella or Bae Yong-Joon, etc. They are the North-eastern Indians. When I was much much younger, I was feed with the impression that all indians look like Amitab Bachan or Rajini. Can’t blame my brain for keeping those images. Somehow, even as a kid I had watched plenty of Tamil or Hindi movies (preferred the latter). Besides the usual Ultraman, Transformer, Tom and Jerry lah!

Anyway, for the orientation, everyone was gathered in the auditorium. Started off with singing, as the usual norm for Adventist institutions. The staff and teachers of SMC were seated on stage and I had a scan of their faces. Boy, oh, boy, frankly the men looked pretty much the same. Middle aged, either with spectacles and moustaches. Not too many women, I think. Some were seated way back, so can’t really tell. The president gave his speech followed by announcements from various department heads. My roomate told me there are not too many international students – although I did see some Koreans and Africans. Oh, I did meet an Indonesian guy who greeted me “Apa khabar”. We were out of the auditorium in about two hours. I didn’t go ahead with the registration procedure. Maybe Sunday or Monday if my ATM transaction goes well. Had a problem withdrawing money earlier. But that’s beside the point.

Well, I still have plenty of formalities to complete before I’m truly settled and ready to eat books night and day. For those of you who have been giving me kind and encouraging comments, I hereby promise to feed you diabetic foods from here when I return :) In the mean time, watch a Hindi movie for me cause I know I won’t be watching just yet.

Have a lovely weekend!

Namaste, Syukria and Pagal Hei June 18, 2008

Hello, thank you and (you’re) crazy. That’s the richest I could get with my Hindi vocabulary!

It’s my second day in the land of the holy cows! And to me it’s been like a week. First thing upon arrival, I stared at the vivid red and yellow walls of my rented apartment. It was very amusing. Not too bad actually. I’m thinking of getting a weaved mat preferably orange or tumeric yellow to match the mood. Too bad I can’t do anything about the squat toilet. At least it gives me the motivation to finish doing business quickly and without delay.

Next I bought myself a home made pillow and mattress which cost less than RM50. My first meal reminds me fondly that I am a student again and that I am far, far away from Asia City Seafood Restaurant, my mother’s ikan bilis with green chillies, and the occassionally rich potlucks/barbeques at Romeo’s. Well, rice, canned sardines and sliced cucumbers for breakfast aren’t that bad. As long as you have a company, and you are cheered up by some yellow walls.

I walked quite a lot the past two days. Walking through dusty streets and lanes in search of household stuff. I even saw a few cows that I’m always crazy about. Actually bullocks pulling a cart. And some looking for food at a big rubbish bin. So foreign and yet not surprising. There are many things that I shouldn’t be surprised anyway. I could say I have read enough, heard enough and “saw” enough to prepare me at least mentally for what to expect with this new transition.

Today I learnt how cover my head with a scarf and don a pair of sunglasses (like many of the locals) as I walk about the same dusty streets and lanes again. I think I looked like a terrorist except that I was weaponless and the only thing in my hand was a small gas cylinder. The gas shop was about 30 minutes away and we refused to take the trickshaw as the man wanted to charge us twice and a half the usual price. Tck. Tck. Tck.

It’s only 5:45PM and I’m feeling drowsy already. Lack of sleep, yeah. Well, I’m gonna go check on that new mattress of mine again. See how it’s doing. Will update once I have the time. Good thing there are plenty of cyber cafes at a short walking distance. Less than RM1 per hour too. Mana kau cariiiii di KK?! :)

June Already! June 5, 2008

Indeed, indeed it is June. Which means in a matter of days I will be leaving, for a period of time, all that I associate home with Pa and Ma, my cow shrine and the memorabilia in it, my pets, my singing buddies, the rolling hills of Kampung Pengasaan and even the potholes that I have to go through daily.

It’s been five years since I last made a major geographical transition. I’m slightly nervous especially after being told by a million people (or even heard) negative and discouraging comments about the place I’m heading to. Fact is, every country or city or place that you go to has its own flaws and inconveniences and that we need to adapt carefully in order to survive. At least that’s how I try to assure myself. Still it does worry me a bit when, frankly, I’ve kinda developed a low or no tolerance for nonsense and ass-kissing. Hmmm. Maybe I should warn my friends, “Hey people, get ready to give me a welcome home potluck in November.” :)