Doing your bit!

I just could not understand some people's behaviour..I know..people are diverse and so are their behaviours..I am not saying about something bad...it's just that the behaviour (or i think in this case attitude is more appropriate) is so unacceptable...

well, the story goes like this..in my flat, we are provided with recycle bag so that we can recycle paper and glass..(one thing to note: they don't recycle plastic bottles...strange but true)...all this while I think all my flatmates are aware of the presence of the recycle bag and every week, the bin will be full with lots of stuff to be recycled..

it was my week last week..you know..we have duty roaster..who should take charge of the kitchen or else no one will do their duty...so, in the morning I cleaned some of my stuff in the room and found lots of papers which could be recycled..I put these papers in the recycle bag..also, all the food packaging which was made from paper I put it in the recycle bag as well..the next morning when I was about to bring the recycle bag down to a large recycle bin, I saw my biscuit packaging which was made from paper being thrown into the rubbish bin..I was so surprised thinking who would do such a thing..if the stuff is made from paper and it has the recycling symbol (the one with 3 arrows in rectangular shape), it means that it can be recycled..who wouldn't know that right?

I think I know who did that coz' previously, I was asked by one of my flatmates about what material can be recycled and what cannot be recycled..I don't know why would someone do that...if the stuff can be recycled, why must it be thrown into the rubbish bin? I am so frustrated with her attitude..I know she might not be aware of the environmental issues but just leave the stuff as it is..

having a degree in environmental science did change my perception about the world we are living in..everyday, the rubbish that we are producing are thrown into the landfill and we are running out of these spaces..the more rubbish that we produce, the landfills will be filled at a much faster rate..even now the lands available are scarce as we have to make way for developments..people need houses for shelter and more people are now staying close to landfills...this create another problem..studies have shown that people staying within a close distance to landfills have higher incidence of cancer; leukemia or bladder cancer in particular from the landfill gas (methane, volatile organic compounds and others)...

so what can we do? if we recycle either glass, paper or plastics (not all plastics can be recycled yet),these will reduce the amount of rubbish that goes to the landfills....yes it's true that products made from recycled materials do cost higher in the market, but if more people are aware of recycling, the demand will increase and in the long run, these products could be much cheaper than now..please recycle and help the environment..the earth is not meant for us only but for the future generation as well..sustainable environment is what we should aim for...PLEASE DO YOUR BIT...RECYCLE!

p/s: I may sound a bit like an environmentalist now but I do hope that more people are aware and care for our environment by doing our bit..recycle what we can and let's make our earth a better place..

On cloud nine...

Finally, my final exams were over last Friday...after more than a month of hard work, everything seems to be more than fine...I am so relieve that the exams are no longer bothering me..I have been preparing for the assignments since Easter break and poor me...I did not go anywhere for the break except concentrating on my 5 assignments..lucky enough I managed to complete all of them before deadlines...and now since Friday I can have 8 hours of sleep as oppose to 6 hours of sleep I have been through like hell for the past 2 months...even my eyes are starting to have dark circles around them, just like a panda...

although I am having plenty of time now, I should start my dissertation early...I don't wanna wait until the last minute..I just wanna start early, organise everything and finish it as soon as possible..luckily, I have finish my labwork last month..that was another hardship I have got to go through..waking up at 7 am and I have to be at the lab at 8 am was the hardest thing to do..it's not that I am not used to wake up early..it's just that when you have to be that early in the lab, my brain needs some time to warm up...furthermore, I have to attend lectures at 9.30 -12.30 and 1.30 -4.30 and continue with the labwork after lecture...I was so damn exhausted when I had to go to the lab..it was not everyday, but 4 days a week for 5 weeks...all my friends pity me when I have to go through that but I am so relieved that my supervisor made a wise decision..the reason being I can start data analysis and write-up when my friends are struggling in the lab now..pretty cool huh? although I suffer much earlier, now I just wanna taste the sweetness of being able to wake up late and sit back, relax and enjoy..

well, I do plan to travel around UK and Europe in the next few months before I leave for Malaysia..my friends and I have already plan to have our UK trip at the end of this month and we plan to have our Europe tour at the end of July..hmm.I can't wait to travel..till then..

What am I up to?

I have not been able to update my blog for quite some time...I was busy with my assignments during Easter break..poor me...I did not go anywhere during the so called 'break' just to concentrate on my assignments...nevertheless, my friends and I made a BBQ party..it was nice..I really love it..although my attire was full with coal smell after the party..we had loads of food..there were chicken wings, seafood, pizza, burger and also 'nasi lemak' (rice with coconut milk-Malay traditional dish)..we ate to our heart contents that day and as a result we decided to jog all day the week after as we ate so much like we have never eaten before..one thing for sure, we've exceeded the Guideline Daily Amount of 2000 kcal for that day...that was horrible..but we did jog everyday for the whole week..as promised..

Now, I am preparing for my exam which is just around the corner..I will sit for 3 papers on the 1st, 4th and 8th of June..I am also working on my last assignment for the term which is due on the 24th of May..hopefully I will be able to finish my essay this week so that I will have the time to revise for my exam..well, wish me luck...hopefully I will succeed with flying colours this time around..

One final news before I sign off, I learned from my friend that one of my colleague at work passed away last night..it is sad to know that she's gone now..although she was my subordinate, she helped me a lot...she always did the photocopying for me and send letters to my pigeonhole...I was also told by my friend that she suffered from multiple myeloma just a few months after I left for UK..although she was always being teased by our colleagues (she always talked non-stop), she was a kind person..may her soul rest in peace..:(

It snows finally...

I have not updated my blog for quite some time...well, what an interesting way to start my post in 2007 with my exciting winter stories..I shall begin with my trip to London...it was a nice journey..full of excitement and surprises..I visited lots of places and took so many pictures...my friend and I even almost lost our belongings in Madame Tussauds..all due to us not being unaware of the procedure of not to leave our bags unattended..that serve us as a reminder...as a result, we kept our bags tight just to not let the same thing happened twice..whatever it is, the journey taught me a lot in becoming an independent traveller..I can't wait to travel to other parts of the world...gain experience and widening the horizon..

Well, my London trip aside..I was so excited today that it snowed finally in Birmingham..I have been waiting for it for quite some time..I was jealous at my friend's pictures who stays in Surrey..she had snow shower last two weeks..she had pictures in the snow and even made a snowman..but now, I no longer envied her...the heavy snowfalls in Birmingham made me so happy..Allah has finally grant my wish..my friends and I even plan to travel to Switzerland to have the experience of snow..luckily we did not go..

As it snowed heavily today, everybody was so happy..my coursemates (including the Brits)were so excited..we played snowballs during the breaks...funny enough, the lecturer was so kind that he gave us 3 short breaks for the 3 hours lecture just to let us enjoy the snow..well, we grabbed the opportunity to have snowball fight..I was wet...I got so excited that I took lots of pictures...yeah, this will be a moment I truly cherish as there is no snow back in Malaysia..

After my afternoon lecture (which finished almost 2 hours earlier-the lecturer wanted us to enjoy the snow), my flatmate and I had another snowball fight...it was fun...we also made our snowman...the masterpiece..although it doesn't really look like a real snowman..we enjoyed the time we had..that's most important..the bond and the fun of course..

It is forecasted that it will snow again tomorrow..I am so excited..I want to go to the canal and take pictures..it would be nice to have some pictures with water...

p/s: can't wait to play another snowball fight!

I am 25

Well, I am 25 on the 25th of November...what a coincidence..I got a big teddy bear from my friends in UK..not sure if I should stop getting all those cutie things as I am growing up..yup, as one of my friends said I should become more 'mature'...as though I am not mature enough...:) I know, I can be childish sometimes, butI know my limits..

Whatever it is, I am 25 in UK...a suitable age I think to be independent, away from the family...I can say that I am settling well here..smooth journey all the way since I came in September...and do hope it will be smooth as well till the end of the course..

I am having my exams in two weeks time..not sure what to expect...it will be my first time to have exams in English as all this while I had exams in Bahasa Malaysia during my undergraduate study...I am okay with that..not really nervous..I just have to be well prepared though..but there are lots of things to read..yup, master course means all the independent studying...and a whole loads of reading stuff...

okay, I better get back on my study..can't waste any more time..or else I would not have enough time to read all those stuff..

Everything falls into place...

I have been in the UK for about 3 weeks now and everything seems to fall into place...I got my bank account opened, I got a new phone for my 1 year contract, I managed to meet new friends along the way and I am getting used to the way people here walk...and I mean it..I can walk terribly fast now and it took me 8 minutes to walk to school rather than 12 minutes when I first came...quite an achivement right?

Anyway, I have one thing that I am focusing on right now...I want to move out from my current accomodation...it's not that it's not good...it's superb...you have all the facilities with ensuite bathroom, BUT I am paying like 480 pounds per month just for that room...and I have only 200 pounds for food, books, travel, phone and etc...and in my flat there is a restriction when you use the internet..allowable usage is only 100MB and you have to pay also for your laundrette...it's just not worth it to spend so much on accomodation when I can get cheaper accomodation from the private house..

Actually, there is one lady who would like to look at my room this afternoon...I do hope that she will agree to switch from her old accomodation to mine although she would be paying a little extra of 600 pound...but it's worth it as she has to spend 25 minutes walk to her school whereas if she stays at my flat, it will take her only 10 minutes...furthermore, my flat is so convenient...it's nearby the major supermarkets and within walking distance...

p/s:Hope that everything will go smoothly and she will agree to stay in my flat:)

Dream come true...

Alhamdulillah, praise be to the Allah Almighty....my dream come true finally....to be able to go to UK to pursue my master...what a great feeling...I am in Birmingham now...a week has past and I am thousand miles away from home...how I miss my family (mama, ayah, along, baby, nenek, chik, lang, tam, busu and the list goes on) and friends so much (asrah, riyna, suza, azwa, mekza, zek, ame, cma, nani, wawe, uma, sha, hanim, etc)..not forgetting my aunt's cat (montel-didn't have the chance to say goodbye to her before leaving-she was missing in action)...

By the way, I am fine here...trying to catch up things which are totally new to me...the environment, the place, the people, the food, the accent and also the weather...it is quite cold here although a few of my coursemates do wear skirts to class...I am not used to this kind of weather as I come from a sunny and bright country all year long...guess I have to adapt myself fast as the winter will come soon..

It has been a pretty long week for me....I got class everyday...I am so jealous that the rest of the freshers have their own free time...they will start class only next week...whatever it is, the sooner the better right? at least I get to know the style of teaching as it is quite different form my country...everybody seems to be outspoken...that is something that I have to learn...to be brave and speak up...giving out opinion regardless of right or wrong...

I also have trouble understanding the accent...it's quite hard to understand at first...but after a week, it seems that I can understand it a lot better now...however, the locals here are not that friendly...the international students are left out...they don't really mix around with us...I am not sure if that's a wrong assumption to make, but I do hope that it will improve over time as we get to know each other better...

I also hope that the coming weeks will be enjoyable and fun although it seems that it will get hectic as I start to get assignments to be completed...