Life’s an ocean of possibilities

Graduating with a CGPA of 3.77 provided me with the opportunity to pursue my PhD directly without having to complete my Masters.

I was blessed with the opportunity to pursue my PhD and work with a world-reknown researcher in the University of Sydney, Prof Dr Nicholas Hunt, whose research work is in the field of malaria, and who is also credited with the groundbreaking find of a new human enzyme.

It’s been two years since I started applying for scholarships. I’ve been to a number of interviews that puzzlingly found me and my research project not worth funding.

Yet, I believe that great things are still possible. Not because of who I am but because of who God is in our midst. After almost two years, various applications and countless email, I was finally offered a scholarship by the University of Malaya to pursue my PhD last March.

Has the journey been smooth since then? Don’t even think about it. My approval is still stuck with the Ministry of Higher Education, although I am supposed to report in Sydney in July.

Have I given up? Of course not. Do I feel like giving up? Sometimes, but rarely so. Will I have to rush through my preparations? Without a doubt. Do I wish that the system was more efficient and assisted the students better? Of course.

But none of this stops me from trying every day to move forward to the things I dream for.

Opportunities come, but never easily or smoothly. Good things worth fighting for, are worth waiting for. I see where I come from and I see where I am today.

In all of it, I see a never-ending string of surprises intricately entwined in the journey of my life. Where we come from does not determine where we will go. What we don’t have does not decide what we will end up with.

Life is an ocean of possibilities. It moves forward with the vehicle of faith.

FELICITA FEDELIS JUSOF,
Butterworth.


http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/17/focus/8916375&sec=focus

Photos of Bersih 2.0 Launching

Hi guys, i went to the launching of Bersih 2.0 at Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall last night. You can view the photos here.

Don’t steal my photos. But if you need to use it for official reasons, please acknowledge me. thank you.

http://www.facebook.com/TeresaKokSuhSim?ref=ts&sk=wall#!/media/set/?set=a.10150211732127877.319634.599962876

Kuala Lumpur Panorama (1)

Date: 30/5/2011

Time: 5.10pm

Location: Photo taken from TNB Tower.

I think all those Malaysians whom had migrated are a pain-in-the-arse

Recently, there are lots of stories from those Malaysians whom had migrated overseas. And there are equally many who didn’t migrate and wrote in to online news site why they stay in Malaysia.

Let me tell you lah, I find those who had moved overseas such a pain in the arse. You know why? Cos they are a bloody bunch of people whom had abandoned ship and then, try to talk patriotic why they had to do it. As if someone held a gun to their head and kick them out.

Please la…if you have moved out, just get out and shut up. Don’t talk like our country is such a dumps. It is not. It is still a lovely country. You moved because of your selfish reasons. Enuff said.

Firstly, when a person or a family moved out, they are bound to leave their aged parents behind. Many filial sons won’t do that. Never in our minds, i.e. my husband or my mind would think of leaving our aged mothers to move to greener pastures. It is just wrong. Don’t fool yourself with ‘never mind, my mother will fly to Canada for a few months in a year to enjoy the weather’. You are just escaping…

Next, you have to be blardy rich or blardy educated (in most case, it is because you are blardy rich) to be able to do that. You think all those gwailoes will want you to squat in their countries if you are not skilled or have tonnes of money to invest? So, don’t talk like every single Malaysians can opt to migrate and make the rest of us who stayed back like we are fools for not abandoning ship.

Then, there are those who think ‘ang moh sai eh ciak’ (english shits is edible, i.e. a sense of idolising caucasians) and kept praising how good England is, how good Australia is etc etc. Please lah, our politicians are shits but so are all politicians in the world. Just because you idolise them, you are blinded to their imperfections.

Another group is the parents who migrated for the ‘future of their children’. We did think of doing that at one stage in our lives. We were keen on seeing all our children having better education in Australia. But what held us back is whether it is fair to uproot our grown children from their familiar environment here for the sake of education? What about their friends and the sense of belonging here? We didn’t want to end up with rebellious teens who have problem adjusting. What good is good education when the children aren’t happy in a new country?

Like to admit or not, if we are in foreign land, we are second-class. We are Asians. Asians don’t have very good image there. Asian porn is like second class porn. Asians are sometimes mistook for being terrorists. Asians are those noisy Chinamen portrayed in kungfu movies. So, get real…fool yourself but there is no place like home here in Malaysia.

You can whine and whine about how discrimination exists here in our country if your skin colour is too pale or too dark. But look at yourself, aren’t you capable of working harder for a better life? Our ancestors from China and India did that, so why can’t we when we have better opportunities than them?

You think it is smart to abandon ship and when you are away in a foreign country, you curse the PM, curse the Tun M, curse the exam SPM and a 100 other M you can find just to justify why you abandon ship. But…we know, you did it because for selfish reasons. Nicer weather, higher standard of living, far away from the in-laws, lesser haram-halal restrictions etc etc…But the fact is, you left your country which you could have contributed your expertise to. You want a way out for your selfish needs.

So, stop all those letter like ‘oh I am so poor, my country treats me badly, so I have no choice but to leave’. Go play far-far and stop complaining now that you are out. We will stay here and make the best of what we have and work harder to make it even better. Sekian, terima kasih.

By Chan Lilian http://www.chanlilian.net/2011/05/30/i-think-all-those-malaysians-whom-had-migrated-are-a-pain-in-the-arse/

Surah al-Hujurat, ayat 13

Wahai umat manusia, sesungguhnya kami meciptakan kamu daripada lelaki dan perempuan, dan kami menjadikan kamu daripada berbagai-bagai bangsa dan bersuku puak supaya kamu berkenal-kenalan (dan beramah mesra antara satu sama lain). Sesungguhnya semulia-mulia kamu di sisi Allah adalah orang yang lebih takwanya antara kamu, (bukan yang lebih berketurunan atau bangsanya). Sesungguhny Allah maha mengetahui lagi mendalam pengetahuannya (tentang keadaan dan amalan kamu).

~ Surah al-Hujurat, ayat 13

good morning Penang

Photos taken from Penang Bridge and George Town at 7am.

It's my first time going under Penang Bridge to snap snap. =p

George Town, Penang

Date: 19/5/2011

Time: 6.08pm

Venue: George Town, Penang

Freshie Penang

Photos taken today 19/5/2011

such a beautiful sky right?

The sky today is just too superb nice with blue background n white marshmallow clouds.

Photos of Komtar were taken while i was riding bike. Yes while i was riding. ahaha.

View from SMK Hutchings

Date: 11/5/2011

Time: 2.48pm

Venue: SMK Hutchings, Lebuh Farquhar, 10200 Penang

'wow' Utusan Malaysia

In lectures, I learn that media must be objective, tell nothing but only the truth, neutral, independent, be responsible on their reports, quote from the credible sources, clarify and verify the information.

Now, it's just a rhetoric from what Utusan Malaysia is doing. Utusan has ruined the professionalism of Journalism and caused more harm than good to the society. It is giving false information as well. For me, there's no more accountability and reliability in Utusan Malaysia's reporting.

The Barisan Nasional Government  is not going take action on them because it's their political tool.

Funny thing is when stupid media make stupid statement; there are stupid people who believe in it. This is Malaysia! No wonder Malaysia is having brain drain because smart people have left the country.

People, let's boycott racist and extremist newspaper for your own sake. And please make a change in the coming General Election. Show them the power you have as the legitimate citizen of the nation.

UTAR Block G Entrance

Date: 31/3/2011

 Time: 2.10pm

Venue: Block G, UTAR, Kampar, Perak

Sunset from my window

Sunset from my window

Date: 3/5/2011

Time: 7.21pm

Venue: Westlake, Kampar, Perak

* no editing tau =p

Kampar Old Town

Date: Sunday 1/5/2011 (Labour Day)

Time: 2.06pm

Venue: Kampar Old Town, Perak

No (only) in Malaysia

In Malaysia, any rally, protest, demonstration, assembly, gathering and picket that held to demand something from the Government, it’s illegal. Other than Government, it’s legal.

UTAR: Library by the lakeside

Date: 31/3/2011

Time: 1.28pm

Venue: Block G (Library), Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Kampar, Perak

don't question us

Sorry, suddenly I have the urge to say this.

Don’t question why the youngsters leave the country. Don’t question why the non-Malays support the Opposition. Don’t question the patriotism of the non-Malays. Don’t question why there are still so much crimes, accidents and poverty.

Question yourselves!

The answer lies in the government itself. Look at how you treat us. Look at how your policies and decisions which only benefit certain group. Look at how corrupted and incompetent you are. Look at how you labeled us the non-Malays. Look at how racist your people are when you unashamedly talk about 1 Malaysia.  

Let me tell you, before the change of a government, many young people will leave the country. Because I too, has lost hope.

pray for Japan

Pray for Japan: People from all walks of life came together to pray for the earth quake and Tsunami victims and survivors in Japan at the Tzu Zhi centre in Penang on 26th March. The disasters has cost millions of deaths, the highest ever number of deaths ever recorded by a the disaster in Japan. It also caused radiation to leaked out.

Mural Painting (after) @ Tronoh Mines

4.18pm 9/4/2011 SJK (C) Sin Min, Tronoh Mines New Village, Perak

This is the final product of mural painting produced by the Public Relations students and some volunteers on 1/4/2011 for the Volunteerism Campaign (Environment). The image is drawn by Diana Wong Fong Wee from PR course as well. This mural painting will surely be an inspiration to the primary school kids to study hard and give back to the society one day. It will also serves as a landmark for Tronoh Mines New Village. Congratulations to the Environment group for successfully bringing smiles to everyone who sees this. God bless you all. =p

Mural Painting (before) @ Tronoh Mines

11.44am 1/4/2011 SJK (C) Sin Min, Tronoh Mines New Village, Perak

A bunch of Public Relations Final Year students and some volunteers are carrying out mural painting activity under their Volunteerism Campaign (Environment) for SJK (C) Sin Min in Tronoh Mines.

Najib @ Penang

Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato Sri Najib Razak went to Penang yesterday, 2/4/2011, Saturday.

People macam rusa masuk kampung. satu olang mali, riuh satu Penang. what's so great of him coming to Penang? ayooo.. it's just a visit, show face, shake hands, smile, take pics, eat free food, giv out freebies, promise this and that n den c u bye bye. y so much media attention on him? aya.. no other news meh. sumor all the news provided by BERNAMA. all one-sided news. See now Bernama wrote wrongly, give their own interpretation. hmmm..

Give Najib some space la.. I know he's our Prime Minister and yes, i love him too but janganlah lebih-lebih. Ish. Sambutan untuk YAB macam sedang mendewa-dewakan beliau. Tak patut kot.. Tokoh patut disanjungi dan dihormati tapi tak payahlah disembah.

Let PM continues to do his job. Media pun jangan bias. Rakyat pula critisize based on policies and not feelings.

Thank you.

SJK (C) Sin Min, Tronoh Mines New Village, Perak

11.34am 1/4/2011 SJK (C) Sin Min, Tronoh Mines New Village, Perak

* A very small cute little school with a very small number of primary school kids.

* A venue for the PR Volunteerism (Environment) Campaign mural painting activity.

* A place where i got sun burn for being the only non-PR student volunteering myself for the campaign's mural painting! =p

* THIS IS THE LONGEST PANORAMA EVER WHICH COVERS ALMOST 300DEGREES! WAHAHAHA!

Beijing @ Westlake Homes

7.43pm 30/3/2011 Beijing @ Westlake Homes, Kampar, Perak

Now, students and even Kamparians don't have to go far to China to look for Beijing. Beijing is just in front in your nakes eyes. Beijing, one of the latest type of houses in Westlake Homes, a gated residential area in Kampar, Perak. Westlake Homes is built specially for the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman's students. The house comes with more than 10 rooms and other facilities. Of course the rental is much higher, above RM250.

Bluish Tuesday

4.19pm 30/3/2011

Beautiful bluish Tuesday, Westlake view from UTAR, Kampar, Perak.

freedom of speech in Malaysia

Freedom of speech is entitled to everyone. It’s the basic liberty of humankind. It simply means you can say whatever you want but you must also know what can and cannot be said. You will have freedom of speech if you are the government or you side them. Just look at Raja Petra and Ahmad Ismail. If your speech is not in favor of government, then ISA will be your home. But if you are pro-Government and your speech is against other people, race n even religion which are not the majority of the country, then you are free to walk on the street. This is Malaysia mah!

so are you free in this country?

my first video

Jeng jeng jeng!!

Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to my first ever video production!!

Wahahaha.

I’m feeling so excited because this is the first time I make a video using a software all by myself. I am not an IT person. I’m bad in technology. That’s why I used about 2 hours to make this video. The Windows Live Movie Maker 2011 is so different from what I used to see few years ago. I think it has been upgraded.

So what’s so great about this video? It’s great because my effort paid off. I feel so satisfied because I finished what I’ve started.

This video is not shot by video camera. It’s actually a photo slideshows and I made it into a video so that I can post it on Youtube.

105 photos are used to make this video. I shot these photos back in 31/12/2009. It was 5am in the morning and I stood in front of Masjid Kapitan Keling in Penang for 30 minutes, waiting for the moon to set.

And I was so lucky because the moon was at its fullest that night, which was also the 15^th of the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

Besides than photography, I actually enjoy videography too. I want to be in the video and I want to produce video or movie too. The problem is I don’t have the tools to make it happen. Video camera is too expensive. Plus, my camera can’t take video.

Today I’m the producer, director, cameraman, and also the editor of my video. Hahaha.

So let’s enjoy this short video clip of “Moonset on the Last Day of 2009”.

UTAR by the lakeside

 Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Perak Campus

4.33pm 3/8/2011

JOM UBAH!

JOM UBAH!!

KALAU TAK UBAH SEKARANG BILA NAK UBAH!

KALAU TAK UBAH SEKARANG, KITA YANG AKAN TERUBAH!

KALAU TAK UBAH SEKARANG, MEREKA TAK AKAN UBAH-UBAH!

KALAU TAK UBAH SEKARANG, TIADA PELUANG LAGI MEREKA AKAN DIUBAH!

KALAU TAK UBAH SEKARANG, SAMPAI BILA-BILA PUN TIDAK AKAN ADA PERUBAHAN!

Amnesty International Malaysia is Seeking 50 Youth Ambassadors!!!!

Amnesty International Malaysia is on a quest to find 50 Youth Ambassadors. We are looking for young, committed and passionate youth to represent the movement through a six months long road trip campaign to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. The Ambassadors will be introduced during a festival on 28th May 2011, the 50th birthday of Amnesty International and this programme will culminate on Human Rights Day, 10th December 2011.

For more information please contact 03 – 79552680 or email youthnetwork@aimalaysia.org or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/aimalaysia

Rainbow House, Perlis (front view)

Rainbow House from the movie Great Day / 天天好天 (Tian Tian Hao Tian)

Date: 26/2/2010

Time: 1.33pm

Venue: Perlis

Rainbow House, Perlis (side view)

Rainbow House from the movie Great Day / 天天好天 (Tian Tian Hao Tian)

Date: 26/2/2010

Time: 1.28pm

Venue: Perlis