献给亲爱的同学

各位，吃饱晚饭了吗？

我，吴蕙月想要在这下着毛毛雨的夜晚，承认一些事儿，向朋友献上感恩的花朵，向恩人致敬。

在我下线做功课前，我想向我的师范朋友，大声说："THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! "虽说这学期是我展开师范生活的起步，不过，没了你们，我······我······我简直就会为之崩溃！

我承认，我刚来时，性格确实有点大咧咧，粗枝大叶，完全无气质可言。（欠打）起床起得特别早，吃东西一定要配乐才行，天天跳大象舞······

***

在此，我想给一些朋友，一些话：（我用shortform/外号好了，谁跟我同班，应该懂吧。）

#基于时间缘故，我只写给四位朋友，抱歉咯！不过，认识你们，是我的荣幸，也算是人人团圆，结了善缘。XD

LADIES FIRST!!! :P

Mother Theresa

说你是双鱼座，但是，奇妙的是，你一点也没有典型双鱼座人的柔弱娇态！相反的，在我们经历风风雨雨的时候，你还会在旁，静静聆听，并伸出一双暖烘烘的手，给予扶持。

新学期刚开始时，我还蛮讨厌你为什么那么挑剔，说我吃的仪态难看、走路超级无敌粗鲁等等。Waliao eh，我为什么不Girly-Geli不可？？！！还有，当其他同学围在你身旁，说你是贤妻良母时，我心里完全不是滋味儿。应该说，是妒嫉鬼作祟吧！

（不要打我！）

不过，时光飞逝，时间让我更有耐心，看待每一个人心中的花园，让我看到，每个人的心中，有道美丽的彩虹。我在上个学期当组长时，是你在我身旁给予一臂之力，指引我不要冲动地下决定。功课方面，你也教导了不少妙计，好让我阿塞门能顺利完成。当我有伤心事时，你也愿意听我没完没了的倾诉。

貌若天仙的你加上一颗慈爱的心，相信你一定会在未来翻转杏坛，为下一代带来更多爱。

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

慧欣

静静的你，脑子却有着一把劲！

我还记得，我们有好几次同组做Project，而最大的是数学阿塞门。我这个阿蒙，做什么都懵懵懂懂，有啦，就是找资料方面特别特别讲究咯。你就像照明灯一样，给我看清阿塞门实况，还一直叫我不停检查Spelling Error, Typing Error, Margin等等。还有，我想在此感谢你和我一起找关于Sejarah Nombor的Bahan Bercetak，否则我就要为它发疯了。

看来，我还麻烦你不少······

GENTLEMEN

Mr Good

我对你的第一印象是：帅气、随和、绝对足球狂、鬼点子一箩又一箩。是的，每次讲师讲什么，你都会以无限创意和幽默应回讲师。（不要叫我在此Justify My Answer咯，我记性欠佳，什么Example什么Elaboration都忘了，脑海里的Video Tape就有。）还有，你整天就那句“Bo Jio!!!”好吧，这次我Jio你来太平吃喝玩乐，有兴趣的话我明年Jio你进佛学活动，不要说我Bo Jio你咯。嘿嘿哈哈！！！ :P（可以的话，我想Jio大家咯。）

我记得我当时获悉我在Social Studies的阿塞门组别里，我又是唯一的女生时，心里忐忑不安。不是怕什么，就只担心我要求太高，会给众组员带来无限压力；沟通方面欠佳；（毕竟我之前很少很少和异性沟通，讲话也一针见血！）还有，功课做得不好。你当时还跟我说：“不用这么怕的啦，我们又不会把你吃掉！”

你敢吃我？法庭见面吧！！！

后来，你当Social Studies小组的组长。我只能说，你的Idea太多，太多了。你任由灵感天马行空，不过终究还会回归现实，更会找最简单的方法完成Project。因此，虽说做Project的时间非常非常短，很神奇的，我一点压迫感都没有，反而觉得很开心。

不过，顺道一问：为什么你会忽然骂人，过后才道歉呢？道歉是美德，不过，先咀嚼、反复思考想说的话，再说也不迟啊！这样能避免不必要的窘况哦！

嘿嘿，加油吧！我们天秤座，就要公平的替天行道，哈哈哈哈！！！

Roger

哎呀呀你为什么脸部表情这么多？你已经够好看了，不需再做什么脸部pattern了啦，啊哈哈！（蕙月啊，你真的很不要脸咯······）

你很静很静，静到给我一种神圣不可侵犯的感觉，有点恐怖哩。神圣不可侵犯，好在你责任感很重，做什么都一定能办得很妥善。

还有，我好像跟你合作做阿塞门N次了。让我一一列出：Recreational Sports, Language Development, Social Studies, Kemahiran Berfikir（还有吗？）配合度超高，而且你还在我做Project做到走投无路时给我指导，否则我早就已经Mati在Jalan Mati了。谢谢谢谢！！！（鞠躬）这是巧合，也是恩缘。 :)（缘缘缘，缘缘缘，缘到在地上转圈圈！）

我很期待以后做Project再和你合作。

哦，明年你做组长，祝你一路顺风，Rock the class! :P

***

其实，哎，要我写类似感言啊，简直就是一言难尽啊！Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

祝大家美梦连连，也希望我们在未来继续向前冲！！！

阿弥陀佛，保佑诸位~

A Taste of East Malaysia

My friends have often told me: East Malaysia is fascinating.

I have not been to the Land of Horn-bills nor the Land Below the Wind in my life. I often wondered how those two places are like, and hey, I would like to pay there a visit if possible! (Although I have absolutely no clue on the places there-I just read about them through the Internet.)

I was fortunate that early in July, the students from Cohort 4 in my campus held a Gawai Kaamatan Celebration so that we can together celebrate the festival by the Dayaks and Kadazan-Dusuns. It is indeed an eye-opener!

My class (as of July 2012, pre-second intake)
FROM TOP LEFT: Michelle, Sheau Chien, me, Xiao Nian (a.k.a. Mother Theresa), Lynster, Jia Ying, Hui Xin
FROM BOTTOM LEFT: Hua Jin, Angus, Jia Hao (a.k.a. Mr Good), Chee Hwa (a.k.a. Ah Tan), Roger

Scrumptious Sarawakian Snacks

It was a little too late when we went there as the "Unduk Ngadau" was over. Nevertheless, we still got to watch the battle-of-strength (in which two people clench each other's fists and the one who stays wins) and the eating competition. I was invited but I turned down. (Hello, I cannot eat oranges fast! It will choke me!)

Stage View

Too bad we were only there for a short while due to class!

I sincerely hope there is such event in the future so that we can know about the various ethnics in Malaysia more.

Money Problem? Face Problem?

“我没有钱啊！！！”

踏入师范生活，就意味着我得离开家庭的怀抱、与父母的依偎了。是时候，我坚强的，勇敢地扎稳脚步，站立在自己的双脚上，以满腔热血，向世界说：

“锦绣前程，我来了！！！”

话说容易，可是，要真正能熬过生活，乐观面对挑战，谈何容易？·

***

母亲说的，一点也没错。出外生活，花了那一点点钱，也会觉得牙龈隐隐作痛，心脏被割了一瓣。我简直就是吃饭不知米价，在cafeteria买了一盘五令吉的饭，就直喊“很贵啊！！！”也许之前没吃过经济饭、Nasi Campur等类似食物；或者我家人对孩子是包吃包住的，自己的零用，分文不花的缘故吧？

#之前我不叫经济饭，在小贩中心，我只吃过饭面类食物，偶尔就点些扒类或糕点。有啦，在“家一道”素食厅有吃过经济饭，不会超过五块钱。

当时，我正想：Cafeteria的业主简直就是疯了，竟然狠狠的砍掉我们这些可怜学生的钱！

我觉得只要一餐超过五块钱，就足够砍头了。想想看，一餐五块钱，三餐就要十五块，一个月伙食就有三百块！政府每个月给的Allowance有RM430，那么，剩下的RM130，能做什么呢？搭车啊，文具啊，日用品啊，手机钱啊······统统不用了，吃自己好了。能过活都因有慈爱的爸爸妈妈拔“钱”相助，才能勉强熬过日子。

难道我要长久依赖父母的钱吗？父亲的工作极不稳定，有时财源滚滚；有时连续一个星期都没接获任何工程。

#YO，我很想很想通过我的专长赚些外快，怎么办怎么办？师范生好像是不能工作的叻。

妈妈一直提醒我，每次从太平来槟城的车资不下一百元，包括汽油和过路费（Toll）。我每个月回家两次，一年车资千多元。我曾说过，我要搭巴士回家。天下无不是的父母，一直告诉我：“搭车很危险啊，要赶时间，到时你到家都累垮了！”他们说，我最好到明年steady了一些才搭车回家。我真希望我到时尽快steady咯。

说要独立，可是叻，金钱方面，我还得依赖父母，十八岁了还这样，很丢脸呢！



我还记得，刚刚来到学院展开新生涯时，我最担心的事，莫过于钱了。我以要价RM1.50的第一份午餐为荣。两口饭配上三两样时蔬就是一餐。我们用餐前，最常问的就是“你的饭多少钱啊？”朋友知道我的午餐钱也傻了眼。

“天啊，需不需要这样？”

这还不要紧，有些更对我冷嘲热讽，说：“Yerr，这么大只，吃到这么少，学我们啦，吃多一点！”小姐啊，个子大，不一定胃口也大的咯。正因为我个子大得离谱，我更要吃得少，动得多。换个角度想，少少分量撑得住一个巨人，证明我的Energy Efficiency很高，Input少，Output多，对不对？

我吃过多次价钱不过二令吉的餐点，引以为傲，以为我会剩下很多零用钱，还做好财务计划。直到七月时，一场食物中毒，（当时吃到烂豆芽）逼我从此不得不拿些好一点的食物，（之前只是蔬菜豆芽或蔬菜豆腐）自从那天起，伙食费两级跳，令我心疼、汗颜不已。

妈妈笑着对我说：“如果天下每个人都能靠一天五令吉伙食费过活，大家都是富翁咯！”

老天爷啊，为什么我要节省却省不了？我的钱不是为了吃而已，我还要买书、日用品，存些钱供以后参加活动用，还有供紧急用途。所谓“未雨绸缪”嘛！

#我最讨厌的生活模式，就是混日子。能平安地出世，健康地成长，已算是一份善缘。人身难得，人生更难得，就要活得灿烂些嘛！趁我还单身、年轻，何不发挥专长，学习些课外事儿，为未来做好准备呢？

***

爱美，本来就是女人的天性。我承认，我也非常爱美，看到脸上多了黑头或青春痘就担忧不已；最担心的莫过于体重飙升，因为肥了，不但不好看，最糟糕的，还是衣服穿不下，又要一笔钱。钱、钱、钱，老娘我要被你逼疯了！！！

我认为，在我身上，值得光荣的，只有头发。（现在也为头上银丝不断增加感到很困扰，难道我还未20岁就注定当白发魔女了吗？！！）

我万万没想到，来到学院，大家都长大了，竟然还有一些人这么以貌取人。我本身习惯穿宽松的上衣，因为衣服大小并不会左右价钱，穿了舒服又自在，而且又不用担心能露出赘肉，引起不必要的目光。结果，有两个大小姐，竟然因这样而挖苦我，说我人长得丑陋，举止粗鲁，衣服又掩盖身材，根本就不能吸引异性目光，注定我一辈子单身！

“看你这个样子，根本就不配有老公咯！！！”

我当时气在心头上，但是却尽力压抑着内心的风暴，恐怕我火山爆发，届时粉身碎骨。值得吗？何况我还十八岁，年轻得是，还要读书、做义工、培养爱好的叻。我承认，我喜欢一个人（也许还暗恋他了呢？）我也希望有男朋友。（大言不惭地承认）不过，我还不够成熟，讲出去还不知能不能吓坏人家，毕竟我比他高，举止有待改善，太粗鲁了。还有，我正学习如何好好分配时间。I want a wholesome balance for me and for all.


***

有时，我朋友就会大谈买衣服、皮肤保养，还问我要不要买衣服。我承认我对店内种种衣服疯狂，能的话我也想拥有整间店的衣服咯。不过，我需不需要这么多件衣服？够穿、舒服就好了。

"You are so NOT fashionable!"

Waliao eh, 我的钱不是从天上掉下来的，好吗？

***

雨城就是雨城，雷声轰轰，暂且歇笔。

真正的好料！ :D

对我来说，真正的好料，无非是妈妈亲手用心炮制的美味餐点。

这是很久很久以前，妈妈煮的佛钵飘香，那时我还在念中六。大爱！

那时，我还记得我的同学谈论如何解决晚餐。某同学就道：“去E-Gate就是咯！那边啊，很多好料的咯！”

是，我们学院周围就有很多供休闲、吃喝玩乐的地方，绕过一幢豪华公寓，走一段路就到Tesco，向旁直走就到E-Gate，确实有很多美食。Sushi King啊，Noodle Station啊，Pappa Rich啊，Boston啊，什么都有，还有酒廊呢！（不过我很乖，我滴酒不沾。）不用愁吃，只怕你没钱，No money no talk嘛，对不对？

不过，当这句话“吃好料，吃好料”一直在我的耳边回响着，也让我不禁反复思考、沉思。

是，那些连锁店的食物固然好吃，而且广受推荐，推销手法一级棒，不过，再想想，连锁店里所售卖的食物，吃来吃去，还不是来来回回那几样菜肴而已，顶多就是一些在材料上的变化而已。还有，有些店的食物，早就已经在工厂准备好，运来分店进行加热而已，缺乏了食材中应有的新鲜口感。店内用餐环境优雅美丽，还配上柔美音乐。可是，我怎么都觉得，它总是缺少了人情味，尤其是那些得自行写单、按铃叫服务员的餐厅，更少交流！

更甚的是，连锁店的食物，要价高昂，一碗椰浆饭可能叫价十令吉不等，而且还不一定色香味俱足。有一次，我在一所连锁咖啡店享用咖喱面，叫价近一张红虎，可是里头的蔬菜已经馊了！

都是Nasi Lemak，不同场所，价钱不一，不过，价钱越贵，不一定越好吃！

还有一次，我班举办太平三日游。在太平游最后一天，我和Ah Tan带同学吃太平远近驰名的Cendol。Ah Tan是该三日游的主席，当然由他讲解咯。他一讲解就是长篇大论，说Bismillah的曾被八度空间《Ho Chak!》采访，Ansari的则未被采访，人气较为逊色，所以哪一间Cendol店比较多人光顾，可想而知。

 

结果，只有佳豪和Angus要去Ansari，因为他们已经尝过Bismillah的Cendol了。Okay咯，我就带他们去吃，反正两间店都蛮近而已，而且两间店的Cendol都有各自的特色，值得推荐！

太平人，当然要好好介绍太平美食嘛对不对？

当时，我喉咙痛，只好眼巴巴看着他们享用香滑、冰凉可口的Cendol。不过，看他俩吃得不亦乐乎，我也觉得很欣慰。

结果，他们称赞Ansari的Cendol分量多，虽说价钱与Bismillah的不相上下。不过，Ansari的有点太甜。

所以呢，我能通过我在槟城念书的少少经验和带朋友吃Cendol这两回事，证明：价钱高昂、人气高的食品，不一定是好料！好料与否，要看个人口味和喜好了。


说真的，来到了师范学院，浓浓的思乡情涌上心头。我不能像往常般帮妈妈洗杯子洗碗
在妈妈指导下诵经、吃美味的素炒饭、看报纸剪报、听爸爸唠叨些政坛风云、看妹妹弄些奇怪发型然后弄什么pose、去Tropics或Ipoh Bakery购买香喷喷的面包、去南禅寺·······

不过不用紧啦，反正我每两个星期都回乡一次，哇哈哈！！！（功课还不是一箩箩，起码能跟父母、妹妹讲话、聚餐，我就觉得很欣慰了。）

#不要开心得这么早，届时你被派到远方执教就知道滋味了！

这份午餐呢，则是我在Alamanda Putrajaya的Kenny Rogers吃的。分量大，材料新鲜，好吃！（对我来说，该分量其实够给我两餐了！）不过，价格在RM30左右，不能常吃！

有时，我听我的同学成天吵着要吃什么好料，我啼笑皆非。好料，不一定要昂贵啊！假如好料要昂贵才行的话，我想全世界的人都破产咯。还有，我想告诉一些人：出外生活，不要有什么奢求，因为我们有缘来到师范，就是踏入杏坛的第一步，要为灿烂人生力争上游，而非养尊处优。吃，只是小事而已，确保自己吃得好，营养均衡就行了，千万千万不要有什么食物不好吃啊，为什么只有马来餐等等之类的抱怨。是，我承认我抱怨过学院的菜很奇怪。（因为我吃惯了家常菜！）不过，后来，日记久了，我慢慢能接受该食物，还觉得蔬菜类特别脆口好吃呢！

如果别有选择，我还是会选择回家吃饭，因为和家人吃饭，多了一份温馨，多了浓浓的亲情围绕四周。还有，家常菜少了回锅油、防腐剂、味精等对身体有害的化学品，吃得比较安心。

今年中秋节的燕菜月饼。

简单的一餐，却是妈妈用心良苦烹制而成的，远远胜过外头的山珍海味！

其实我也喜欢在外用餐，不过，我比较倾向街边小吃和小贩中心美食，因为美食种类繁多，价钱公道，而且小贩们又很亲切，用餐时，多了一份人情味，吃得更开心！因此，在家乡太平，除非有什么特别场合，不然我一定光顾小贩中心或小档口用餐的，即省钱，又吃得高兴。（谁要来光顾太平的，记得通知我一声哦！）

好料，不一定要是山珍海味，也不需豪华的场所。只要美食中多了一份用心和爱心，并让我们吃得安心，就算是份人间乐趣了。因此，我很喜欢，也很期望能回家和家人、亲戚在和谐环境下聚餐，

Part 3: Life at the Hostel (2)

Hostel life-is it cool or disgusting?

Well, it depends on how pampered and disciplined you are!

As I first stepped into the dormitory, I did not actually feel overwhelmed or scared, despite the fact that I was from an ordinary day school. To me, it looked like a camp with ten double-decker beds, lots of small tables and musty curtains. Some of the cupboards were even dysfunctional!

Fortunately, it will be housing just seven girls. (As of the First Intake. The Next Intake came in in mid-July but somehow they live separately with us.) Things will not be that horrible, after all! :D

Ah, before I forget, let me explain why are we living in dormitories instead of rooms for two. I was bombarded with these questions by many of my friends (Urgh!) and here, after I post it, PLEASE DON'T ASK ME AGAIN or I'll whack you! *Evil look*

A scene in the dormitory.

Here is the reason: female teacher trainees are in abundance and hence the shortage of rooms. Thus the female students from my batch were to stay in dormitories throughout the semester until some seniors graduated and moved out. 

I will share about how I survive life at the hostel, okay?

I have had three wardrobes in the dormitory: one in the iron locker for formal attire (Hey, you cannot be ironing your clothes DAILY, right? Better off hang them. Plus, crumpled clothes are just not tidy and smart!); one in my... LUGGAGE. Yes, LUGGAGE. That luggage is for my sports attire, indoor wear and towels (they do not get crumpled easily... I ROLLED them anyway to save space!); one in my little purple portable drawer, which I kept torches and anything which is small in size (for clothes, I need not say more, right? Which is small?)

#Say more and get ready for a "beh hiao kian siao!" (you are shameful) comment thrown onto me. Anyway some things are better kept private.

Thanks for the small amount of inhabitants in the dormitory in Jambu block, I got a double-decker bed for myself to store items. Well, that was later when we decided to refurbish the dormitory for more purposes since the weather was burning hot. My friends decided to sleep on the floor as it was cooler. Me? No, not the floor no thanks to my vertebra...

As for cleaning purposes, my dormitory is just opposite the bathroom, washroom and laundry. (All three are combined) To avoid waiting, I woke up early to shower. Since I am rough in terms of action, to ensure minimal noise level, I prepare my clothes the night before. In Mandarin, the best term to describe my attitude is “大咧咧” and normally, my friends asked me not to do so much of “大反应” (Large reactions) and “大动作” (Large actions) (To those who study best in the morning, you can try this too! It saves time!)

#At times I wonder if I really belong to Libra after all. Librans are supposed to be graceful!

What my table looks like when I am caught in a frenzy for completing assignments, homework, etc. after an exhausting day in class. To avoid food wastage and food poisoning, I bought such jam in small bottles so that each bottle of jam can be eaten at one go. It is pricey (around RM13) but for safety purposes, that's what mum advised me to buy.

Come Friday evening, when I stay back in campus and have too much work that keeps me from going out, I will purchase this packaged meal from the canteen. Yes, economy rice. The meal above costs me RM2.50.

Perhaps food at the cafeteria will help me towards vegetarianism? There is an abundance of variety in vegetable dishes there provided that you go early! Besides from saving money, I actually aim to be a vegetarian by 21 as well...

For those who are wondering, here are Sharon Ng Huey Yuek's tips on saving time in hostel life...

• Purchase simple food for breakfast, e.g. bread, cereal drinks, biscuits etc. I do not have a kettle myself (and it is prohibited, mind you!) so I rely on the watercooler at ground floor. If you get hungry early in the morning before everyone else wakes up, eat OUTSIDE! 
• Prepare your homework on the table so that you can just pull them out and complete them quick and easy! (That is 100% useful for lazybones like me...)
• Wash your clothes RIGHT AFTER class. Toss your pajamas, formal wear, indoor wear etc into a large pail, (better if you wash them slightly beforehand), soak them in water with detergent then leave it for 1 hour or two before washing. No odour guaranteed provided that you wash the soap off properly after that!
• Have a To-Do-List.
• Iron your clothes once a week. Yes, heap them up and iron at one go! It saves you time and electricity. That applies if you have at least five sets of attire.
• Discipline is the key. You are not at home anymore so please GET USED to hostel life as fast as possible and do not dawdle at all!

Honestly, I prefer dormitory than room because it is easier to hold discussions and chat in a single room together, although living in a group means more toleration and patience needed! I admit that I am notoriously reckless and rough at doing everyday tasks (and sometimes I wished I was born as a boy instead, given my un-girly character, gigantic physique and rough voice, HAHA), that I ended up facing the music! Plastic bag as laundry bag, waking up at 5am in the morning with a tummy that growled so loud that it could literally shake the dormitory, rushing into stuff...

Room does not matter as well actually. More private space. :P Whatever it is, both have their pros and cons, am I right?

Okay, since I am born as a female, I really have to practise being genteel, gentle and graceful even if I DETEST it! Imagine have to switch to that "lemah-gemalai" mode. Yikes!

#Accept your fate, you unladylike-lady! (That's what my lecturer told me, to be more ladylike. Grr... I love beautiful clothes but I hate taking things slow! I cannot imagine suppressing my voice but if I do NOT change, will I actually FREAK people out of their wits!)

At least I no longer drag the furniture, throw books all over the bed and sleep on them and use my cutleries as musical instruments. Hehe.

#WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU CRAPPING AGAIN? Better off rapping than crapping yo!

To my dear dorm mates, thanks for being with me for this one whole semester and I sincerely apologise should I do freak you out in any way with my rough and rushy attitude. (Thanks to Buddha, I've learnt how to calm down and do things gently. I cannot bear noisy eating-at least!) I apologise if I poke my nose into inappropriate moments and annoy you guys in any way-I just need someone to talk to. Frankly speaking, I LOVE talking and hate being left out, but when it comes to work, I will rein myself in.

Thank you for guiding me towards maturity and a more ladylike manner. (Since I look as if I am 21, I think it would be more appropriate if I really behave like one, am I right? But, can I?)

END NOTE: We no longer live in a dormitory in October as we moved up to warden's house. Of course the living pattern is still the same except that I go downstairs for shower since I cannot stand the weird smell in the washroom upstairs. He he he he...

Part 2: Life at Hostel

I will skip those long-winded registration processes since it will be really LONG to explain everything (and quite monotonous as well!) Here, let me allow you guys to take a peek into my life at the hostel!

For those studying in IPGKPP (Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Pulau Pinang), you will know where the Jambu Block is. For those who are not otherwise in the know, fear not-I will NEVER lead you on!!!

#And I apologize for the lack of photographs around the campus yea. Workload inhibits my intentions of doing so. (Is it an excuse for your annoying LAZINESS?)

THE HOSTEL BLOCKS IN IPGKPP

As far as concerned, there are currently eight hostel blocks in use, in which four are for the male trainees and the rest are obviously for female.

The male blocks are:

Amra 



It is situated VERY, VERY close to the administration offices. Mind you, one of its doors is just opposite the Educational Knowledge Department (Jabatan Ilmu Pendidikan), you know? Of course, meeting the lecturers and dealing with the Student Affairs' Department is an absolute bliss. Think the consequences if you ever behave badly!

My seniors told me that it is beautiful. How beautiful it is is beyond my knowledge as the only place I could see is the iron grille with the sign stating "Girls are prohibited to cross beyond this zone" that is hung at the grille. (And please do not ask me about it. I AM A FEMALE OKAY?!)

Ciku



This block is the smallest among the other hostel blocks. Situated in a three-storey building in which the lowest floor is the Examination Unit (Guys, help me to grab the tips for examinations next time, okay?), it has no dormitory unlike many other blocks. (That's what I got from my guy friends, once again) It is just opposite the administration offices, so here, meeting the lecturers require less walking as well. Walk just a few steps to your left from the block and it is playtime! Neh, it is near to the field for you to work out in the evening. This block is the closest (though not really that close) to the New block as you will just have to turn right and walk forward for a few hundred metres.

#I am EXTREMELY jealous of the boys in my class. Everything is really convenient for them since they were living in Ciku! Grr...

The downside of living in both the blocks mentioned is that they are very distant from the cafeteria.

Now I would like to introduce about the other blocks. They are similar-four storeys and the structure is similar as well!

Gajus



It is just next to the cafeteria and not too far off from the administration office, though it is not as close to the office as to Amra and Ciku. Nearby the block there is a recycle booth, in which the Buddhist society in my institute often does the recycling activities.

Pinang



Pala-Pinang. Yes, Pinang is also very close to the cafeteria but a considerable distance away from the main blocks mentioned. It is just next to a female block, Pala.

How about the female blocks?

Rambai



Rambai is the latest hostel block built for females. It looks gigantic but actually the bottom level is for technical purposes. (e.g. pre-pump room) It has four storeys and the office governing hostels is at the ground floor. Unlike other female hostels, Rambai has rooms specified for pantries. However, the rooms are smaller as they do not have wooden compartments unlike the other blocks. The building structure is special as well. (Note the staircase) The rest do not have any circular structures like this-just plain staircases.

If you exit through the door of this block facing the cafeteria, turn right and walk your way through a slope to the Gelanggara, where assemblies are held.

Taken from the Internet.

Pala

Pala is situated next to Pinang, and can be seen as though as it is halfway buried if viewed from the balcony of the other two female blocks, Nona and Jambu, Well, they look buried because they are built at the lower ground! (You exit from the door of the cafeteria which faces the hostel blocks, then walk a flight of staircase down and take your own way to go to the hostels.

Nona

Walk slightly down the slope from Rambai and you will see two blocks. The block in front is Nona. Walk straight from the door of Nona to the cafeteria. And there is another slope towards another block...

WHERE IS BLOCK JAMBU?!



If the new block (the place where we have our lectures) is in the East, then my hostel block is in the West. (Of course, I'm TOTALLY unsure about the directions, HA HA.) Yes, so my hostel block is MILES away from the new block and you can imagine walking at least 1 kilometre (if I am not mistaken) to class daily. You might be wondering, what's the big deal walking a merely 1000 metres per route? Well, think over it when slopes after slopes and narrow staircases are concerned! (I describe the staircases as narrow as I have a big shoe size myself-9 or 10. That is very big for girls!)

#Perhaps it is purely due to excessive calorie intake and lack of exercise like my grandmothers do?

So here, ALL THE FEMALE BLOCKS ARE NEAR TO EACH OTHER. Consulting seniors is certainly a bliss! (For females...)

Yes, I must admit that my hostel is the furthest from the new block, academic block and the administration offices. If you do come to my campus, let me walk you around and see for yourself! *chuckles*

On the bright side, we girls get to exercise more since we had to walk through and fro over such distance and keep fit! (It spoils my otherwise combed-for-half-an-hour hair as well, no thanks to excessive perspiration in the process. Yikes!)




Okay, the picture above is a sneak peek on my hostel life which I will continue in my next post, since it is 2.45 a.m. and I will be leaving for Penang tomorrow! I have lots of other stuffs to do and yeah, it's too late the sleeping time now!

Good morning everyone!

PART 3: Life at the hostel (2)